Photon modulation management system for stimulation of a desired response in birds

ABSTRACT

Embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for stimulating a desired response, such as ovulation and egg laying, fertility, hunger, growth, mood and sexual maturity in birds or aves, by controlling the pulsing of two or more different wavelength bands and cycle, frequency of photon bursts within a photon signal to a bird, where the photon modulation and duty cycle is based upon the specific needs of the bird.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priorityto U.S. application Ser. No. 14/943,135, as filed Nov. 17, 2015, U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/083,779, as filed on Nov. 24, 2014, andclaims priority to U.S Application No. 62/043,523, as filed Aug. 29,2014, PCT Application No. PCT/US15/47239, as filed Aug. 27, 2015, U.S.application Ser. No. 14/197,949, as filed Mar. 5, 2014, U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/772,856, as filed on Mar. 5, 2013 and U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/929,872, as filed on Jan. 21, 2014, theentire contents are herein incorporated by reference for all theapplication teaches and discloses.

The foregoing examples of related art and limitations related therewithare intended to be illustrative and not exclusive, and they do not implyany limitations on the inventions described herein. Other limitations ofthe related art will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon areading of the specification and a study of the drawings.

SUMMARY

The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described andillustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods, which aremeant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope.

An embodiment of the present invention comprises a system for inducing adesired response in a bird, the system comprising: at least one photonemitter; at least one photon emission modulation controller incommunication with the at least one photon emitter; where the at leastone photon emitter is configured to produce a photon signal to the bird,where the photon signal comprises two or more independent components,where the two or more independent components comprise: a firstindependent component comprising a repetitive first modulated photonpulse group, where the first modulated photon pulse group has one ormore photon pulse ON durations between 0.01 microseconds and 5000milliseconds with one or more intensities, has one or more photon pulseOFF durations between 0.1 microseconds and 24 hours, and a wavelengthcolor; and a second independent component comprising a repetitive secondmodulated photon pulse group, where the second modulated photon pulsegroup has one or more photon pulse ON durations between 0.01microseconds and 5000 milliseconds with one or more intensities, has oneor more second photon pulse OFF durations between is between 0.1microseconds and 24 hours, and a wavelength color; where the firstindependent component and the second independent component are producedwithin the signal simultaneously; where the second modulated photonpulse group is different from the first modulated photon pulse group;and emitting the signal toward the bird from the at least one photonemitter, where the combined effect of the first modulated photon pulsegroup and the second modulated photon pulse group of the signal producesa desired response from the bird.

An embodiment of the present invention comprises a method for inducing adesired response in a bird, where the method comprises: providing atleast one emission modulation controller in communication with the atleast one photon emitter; communicating a command from the at least onephoton emission modulation controller to the at least one photonemitter; providing a photon signal to the bird, where the photon signalcomprises two or more independent components, where the two or moreindependent components comprise: a first independent componentcomprising a repetitive first modulated photon pulse group, where thefirst modulated photon pulse group has one or more photon pulse ONdurations between 0.01 microseconds and 5000 milliseconds with one ormore intensities, has one or more photon pulse OFF durations between 0.1microseconds and 24 hours, and a wavelength color; and a secondindependent component comprising a repetitive second modulated photonpulse group, where the second modulated photon pulse group has one ormore photon pulse ON durations between 0.01 microseconds and 5000milliseconds with one or more intensities, has one or more second photonpulse OFF durations between is between 0.1 microseconds and 24 hours,and a wavelength color; where the first independent component and thesecond independent component are produced within the signalsimultaneously; where the second modulated photon pulse group isdifferent from the first modulated photon pulse group; and emitting thesignal toward the bird from the at least one photon emitter, where thecombined effect of first modulated photon pulse group and the secondmodulated photon pulse group of the signal produces a desired responsefrom the bird.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a partof the specification, illustrate some, but not the only or exclusive,example embodiments and/or features. It is intended that the embodimentsand figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative ratherthan limiting.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a photon modulation growthsystem for stimulation of egg production.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an individual color photonmodulation growth system pulsing different specific wavelengths of lightwithin a signal to induce egg production in a bird.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a photon emission modulation controller incommunication with a plurality of photon emitters with sample LEDarrays.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing photon emission modulation through amaster/slave LED array.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a master logic controller in communicationand control of a series of photon emitters.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a photon modulation management system incommunication with a series of bird sensors.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a sample LED array in communication withvarious SSRs (Solid State Relays), power transistors or FETS.

FIG. 8a is a photo showing the power converter, SPI, and microcontrollerof a multiple colored die within a single LED.

FIG. 8b is a photo showing the backside of the multiple colored diewithin a single LED of FIG. 8 a.

FIG. 8c is a photo showing the high-speed switching circuitry forflashing of the multiple colored die within a single LED of FIG. 8 a.

FIG. 8d is a photo showing the backside of the LED array of FIG. 8c witha replaceable multicolor die LED.

FIG. 9 is an example layout of LEDs within a LED array.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram showing a method of photon modulation for thestimulation of a desired response in a bird through pulsing of variouswavelengths.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram showing a method of stimulation of a desiredresponse in a bird through the use of bird sensors.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing an example of a photon signal with a photonpulse of near red, with the photon signal having a repetitive rate of400 μs for the controlled stimulation of ovulation and egg laying inbirds.

FIG. 13 is a graph showing an example of a photon signal with a photonpulse of near red and a photon pulse of far red, with the photon signalhaving a repetitive rate of 600 μs for the controlled stimulation ofovulation and egg laying in birds.

FIG. 14 is a second graph showing an example of a photon signal with aphoton pulse of near red and a photon pulse of far red, where the twophoton pulses have a different duration ON and duration OFF from theexample shown in FIG. 13, with the photon signal having a repetitiverate of 600 μs for the controlled stimulation of ovulation and egglaying in birds.

FIG. 15 is a graph showing an example of a photon signal with a photonpulse of blue and a photon pulse of green, with the photon signal havinga repetitive rate of 600 μs for the controlled stimulation of hunger andgrowth.

FIG. 16 is a graph showing an example of a photon signal with a photonpulse of blue, a photon pulse of green, and a pulse of near red with thephoton signal having a repetitive rate of 800 μs for the controlledstimulation of ovulation, egg production, hunger and growth.

FIG. 17 is a graph showing an example of a photon signal with a photonpulse of blue, a photon pulse of ultraviolet, a photon pulse of orange,a photon pulse of green, and a pulse of near red with the photon signalhaving a repetitive rate of 600 μs for the controlled stimulation ofovulation, egg production, hunger and growth.

FIG. 18 is a third graph showing an example of a photon signal with aphoton pulse of near red and a photon pulse of far red, where the twophoton pulses have a different duration ON and duration OFF from theexamples shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, with the photon signal having arepetitive rate of 400 μs for the controlled stimulation of ovulationand egg laying in birds.

FIG. 19 is a fourth graph showing an example of a photon signal with aphoton pulse of near red and a photon pulse of far red, where the twophoton pulses have a different duration ON with different intensitiesand duration OFF from the examples shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, withthe photon signal having a repetitive rate of 400 μs for the controlledstimulation of ovulation and egg laying in birds.

FIG. 20 is a graph showing a comparison of average egg production usinglighting option 1 of the current disclosure with a commercialcomparison.

FIG. 21 is a graph showing a comparison of average egg production usinglighting option 2 of the current disclosure with a commercialcomparison.

FIG. 22 is a graph showing a comparison of average egg production usinglighting option 3 of the current disclosure with a commercialcomparison.

FIG. 23 is a graph showing a comparison of average egg production usinglighting option 4 of the current disclosure with a commercialcomparison.

FIG. 24 is a graph showing a comparison of average egg production usinglighting option 5 of the current disclosure with a commercialcomparison.

FIG. 25 is a graph showing a comparison of average egg production usinglighting option 6 of the current disclosure with a commercialcomparison.

FIG. 26 is a graph showing a four-way comparison of average eggproduction using lighting option 4 of the current disclosure withstandard day/night timing, 24 hour timing in comparison with acommercial control and the commercial average.

FIG. 27 is a graph showing a comparison of average egg size usinglighting option 1 of the current disclosure with a commercialcomparison.

FIG. 28 is a graph showing a comparison of average egg size usinglighting option 2 of the current disclosure with a commercialcomparison.

FIG. 29 is a graph showing a comparison of average egg size usinglighting option 3 of the current disclosure with a commercialcomparison.

FIG. 30 is a graph showing a comparison of average egg size usinglighting option 4 of the current disclosure with a commercialcomparison.

FIG. 31 is a graph showing a comparison of average egg size usinglighting option 5 of the current disclosure with a commercialcomparison.

FIG. 32 is a graph showing a comparison of average egg size usinglighting option 6 of the current disclosure with a commercialcomparison.

FIG. 33 is a graph showing a four-way comparison of average egg sizeusing lighting option 4 of the current disclosure with standardday/night timing, 24 hour timing in comparison with a commercial controland the commercial average.

FIG. 34 is a graph showing a comparison of average bird weight in gramsusing lighting option 1 of the current disclosure with a commercialcomparison.

FIG. 35 is a graph showing a comparison of average bird weight in gramslighting option 2 of the current disclosure with a commercialcomparison.

FIG. 36 is a graph showing a comparison of average bird weight in gramsusing lighting option 3 of the current disclosure with a commercialcomparison.

FIG. 37 is a graph showing a comparison of average bird weight in gramsusing lighting option 4 of the current disclosure with a commercialcomparison.

FIG. 38 is a graph showing a comparison of average bird weight in gramsusing lighting option 5 of the current disclosure with a commercialcomparison.

FIG. 39 is a graph showing a comparison of average bird weight in gramsusing lighting option 6 of the current disclosure with a commercialcomparison.

FIG. 40 is a graph showing a four-way comparison of average bird weightin grams using lighting option 4 of the current disclosure with standardday/night timing, 24 hour timing in comparison with a commercial controland the commercial average.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems, apparatuses andmethods for inducing a desired response in egg laying vertebrates, suchas birds or aves, including but not limited to, chickens, grouse, quail,pheasant, quail, parrots, water fowl, geese, swans, doves, birds ofprey, song birds, turkey, owls, vultures, penguins, hummingbirds,ostrich, duck or other birds, where the desired response includes but isnot limited to fertility, ovulation, hunger, egg production, growth,sexual maturity, behavior and socialization and interpolation ofcircadian inputs. Examples include, but are not limited to; creatingelectro-magnetic wave emission pulse trains (photons) of individualcolor spectrums in sufficient intensity to drive photochemical responsein a bird to stimulate egg production, using a characteristic frequencyor pattern to minimize the required input power necessary to stimulate,while also allowing for the monitoring of the power consumption andother variables of the system. As will be discussed in further detail,by controlling the duty cycle, intensity, wavelength band and frequencyof photon signals to a bird, such as stimulation of fertility,ovulation, or egg production or ovulation can not only be influenced bya human, but ovulation and egg production rates, size and quality,hunger, growth and mood can be controlled through the cycling betweencolors such as blue, green, yellow, near-red, far-red, infrared andultra violet photon modulation.

Specifically by combining multiple repetitive wavelengths of photonspulses into photon signals at specific combination of rates,photochemical response by the birds can be optimized and controlled inorder to stimulate egg production, development of pullets (youngchickens) and poulets (young turkeys) and the finishing of birds orboilers (birds for meat).

The embodiments of the present disclosure induce a desired response in abird, such as, hunger, fertility, sexual maturity, calming or productionof eggs at a faster and or slower rate than traditional grow lightsystems used in egg laying or production. Each light “recipe” or option(a photon signal having one or more repetitive modulated photon pulsegroups with one or more first photon pulse ON durations with one or morefirst intensities, one or more first photon pulse OFF durations, and afirst wavelength color) can be optimized for each desired response toeach species of bird.

An additional example embodiment to the methods, systems and apparatusesdescribed herein may include less heat creation: LED lightingintrinsically creates less heat than conventional grow lights. When LEDlights are used in a dosing application, they are ON less than they areOFF. This creates an environment with nominal heat production from theLED lights. This is not only beneficial in terms of not having to useenergy to evacuate the heat from the system, but is beneficial to thebird because lighting may also be used to reduce animal stress or calmthe animal while also reducing the risk of burning the bird.

For many types of birds, egg production is based on a day/night cycle,where longer day lengths induce increased egg production. As winterapproaches egg laying decreases with many if not most species of bird.To combat the decrease in egg production, artificial light is often usedin egg laying facilities to recreate or mimic a longer day length asopposed to night. Artificial light is often used throughout the chickenproduction process including but not limited to breeder houses,hatcheries, and broiler houses, to promote bird growth and eggproduction.

Growing birds within buildings and vertical farms requires the usage ofpowered lighting to provide essential light for egg production andanimal growth. These lights often are electrically powered and emitphotons used for biological processes such as ovulation, egg laying,muscle growth and development, mood control, and hunger. Examples ofvarious light or photon sources include, but are not limited to, metalhalide light, fluorescent light, high-pressure sodium light,incandescent light and LEDs.

While light is the key component of the egg production in birds, thissystem differs from other historical and even cutting edge lightingtechnologies as it is used as the fundamental controller of birdactivity. Likewise, while LED technology is a core component of lightingin the present disclosure, it is a unique application of LED technologycoupled with other engineering that dramatically expands the potentialfor reducing costs, increasing output, and enhancing control compared toexisting lighting technology for the commercial production of eggs,breeder hens and broilers for meat.

An embodiment herein includes one or more repetitive modulated photonpulse groups within a photon signal, where each repetitive pulse grouphas individual color spectrums or ranges of color spectrums, includingultraviolet, blue, green, infrared, and/or red spectrums, at afrequency, intensity and duty cycle, which can be customized, monitoredand optimized for the specific desired response, such as ovulation, eggproduction, hunger, mood and behavior, young bird growth and developmentas well as the finishing of broiler birds for meat while minimizingenergy used in the system. By supplying control over the rates andefficiencies of modulated photon energy to the bird, different parts ofthe photostimulation of the bird's phytochromes located in thehypothalamus and the retina (such as red opsins and green opsins) photoreceptors are maximized allowing for optimal influence on the desiredresponse (such as egg laying) while also allowing for control of a birdsresponse.

Opsins are a type of membrane bound phytochrome receptors found in theretina and the hypothalamus region of the brain of birds and mammals.Opsins mediate a variety of functions in birds and mammals, includingovulation, egg laying and behavior, through the conversion of photons oflight into an electrochemical signal.

Photons are massless, elementary particles with no electric charge.Photons are emitted from a variety of sources such as molecular andnuclear processes, the quantum of light and all other forms ofelectromagnetic radiation. Photon energy can be absorbed by phytochromesin living birds, and convert it into an electrochemical signal whichmanipulates a metabolite.

This phenomenon can be seen in the vision opsin chromophore in humans.The absorption of a photon of light results in the photoisomerisation ofthe chromophore from the 11-cis to an all-trans conformation. Thephotoisomerization induces a conformational change in the opsin protein,causing the activation of the phototransduction cascade. The result isthe conversion of rhodopsin into prelumirhodopsin with an all-transchromophore. The opsin remains insensitive to light in the trans form.The change is followed by several rapid shifts in the structure of theopsin and also changes in the relation of the chromophore to the opsin.It is regenerated by the replacement of the all-trans retinal by a newlysynthesized 11-cis-retinal provided from the retinal epithelial cells.This reversible and rapid chemical cycle is responsible for theidentification and reception to color in humans. Similar biochemicalprocesses exist in birds. Phytochromes and pheophytins behave verysimilarly to opsins in that they can be rapidly regulated to switchbetween the cis and trans configurations by dosing with differingwavelengths of light.

The responses of birds to the variations in the length of day and nightinvolve photon absorption molecular changes that closely parallel thoseinvolved in the vision cycle in humans.

Bird responses to a photon signal with one or more specific photonmodulations may be monitored depending upon the desired response. Whenthe desired response is the production of eggs, the bird may bemonitored for the release of luteinizing hormones, a heterodimericglycoprotein to indicate impending ovulation in female birds.Luteinizing hormones may be monitored via blood or urinary samples.Samples may be taken daily or at various times during the day toidentify the birds reaction to the photon modulation to ensure efficientegg production.

The present disclosure also provides methods and systems for the amountof electric power used in the process of bird egg production, as well asyoung and broiler bird growth and development, to be monitored andreduced, where the amount of energy delivered can be defined bycalculating the total area under the graph of power over time. Thepresent disclosure further provides methods and systems that allow forthe monitoring, reporting and control of the amount of electric powerused to stimulate a desired response in a bird, allowing an end user orenergy provider to identify trends in energy use.

An embodiment of the system of the present disclosure comprises at leastone photon emitter with at least one photon source, such as an LED incommunication with a photon emission modulation controller, includingbut not limited to a digital output signal, a solid-state relay,field-effect transistor (“FET”) or power converter. Photon emitters aremodulated to send a repetitive pulse, waveform or pulse train ofphotons, where each individual pulse comprises at least one colorspectrum, wavelength or multiple color spectrums or wavelengths and iscapable varying intensities. Each photon pulse is directed toward a birdfor a duration of time ON, such as two milliseconds with one or moreintensities, with a duration of delay or time OFF between photon pulses,such as two hundred milliseconds or up to 24 hours.

As used herein “bird” includes warm-blooded, vertebrates, including butnot limited to, birds or aves, including but not limited to, chickens,grouse, quail, pheasant, quail, parrots, water fowl, geese, swans,doves, birds of prey, song birds, turkey, owls, vultures, penguins,hummingbirds, ostrich, duck or other birds.

As used herein, “duty cycle” is the length of time it takes for a deviceto go through a complete ON/OFF cycle or photon signal. Duty cycle isthe percent of time that an entity spends in an active state as afraction of the total time under consideration. The term duty cycle isoften used pertaining to electrical devices, such as switching powersupplies. In an electrical device, a 60% duty cycle means the power ison 60% of the time and off 40% of the time. An example duty cycle of thepresent disclosure may range from 0.01% to 90% including all integers inbetween.

As used herein “frequency” is the number of occurrences of a repeatingevent per unit time and any frequency may be used in the system of thepresent disclosure. Frequency may also refer to a temporal frequency.The repeated period is the duration of one cycle in a repeating event,so the period is the reciprocal of the frequency.

As used herein, the term “waveform” refers to the shape of a graph ofthe varying quantity against time or distance.

As used herein, the term “pulse wave” or “pulse train” is a kind ofnon-sinusoidal waveform that is similar to a square wave, but does nothave the symmetrical shape associated with a perfect square wave. It isa term common to synthesizer programming, and is a typical waveformavailable on many synthesizers. The exact shape of the wave isdetermined by the duty cycle of the oscillator. In many synthesizers,the duty cycle can be modulated (sometimes called pulse-widthmodulation) for a more dynamic timbre. The pulse wave is also known asthe rectangular wave, the periodic version of the rectangular function.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure and as will be described infurther detail below, the emission of one or more repetitive photonpulses within a photon signal from the growth system described hereinwhere each repetitive photon pulse has a duration ON with one or moreintensities and a duration OFF, a wavelength band and duty cycle inducesa gain efficiency greater than 1 where Gain=Amplitude out/Amplitude in.

FIG. 1 provides a block diagram showing an example of a photonmodulation management system 100. As shown in FIG. 1, a photon emitter106 and 108 is shown over a period of time in communication with aphoton emission modulation controller 104 for the purpose of modulatingthe emission of photons to a bird for inducing a wide range of desiredresponses in birds including but not limited to ovulation, sexualmaturity, mood and hunger. The modulated application of photons to abird by providing photon pulses of one or more frequencies followed bypulses of one or more other frequencies for a duration along with adelay between pulses, allows for peak stimulation/modulation of a bird'sbiological components (opsins receptors) and biological responses, suchas a the pulsing of one or more specific spectrums of light to induce aspecific electrochemical signal for the production of a specificmetabolite. Further, the modulation of photons to a bird allows for theoptimization of photon absorption by opsin receptors withoutoversaturation of the receptors. As described below, the modulation ofthe photon pulses increase energy and heat efficiency of current poultryproduction lighting systems by reducing the overall power draw by thesystem of the present disclosure as much as 99% or more of the photonsource when compared to conventional poultry production lightingsystems, such as a 60 watt grow light, thereby reducing the amount ofpower and cost used to facilitate egg production from a bird. In anexample of the energy saving potential of the system of the presentdisclosure, the system pulses 49.2 watts of photons for two microsecondsper 200 microseconds creating an effective power consumption of 0.49watt-hrs/hr on the power payment meter or 0.82% of the power in a 60watt standard incandescent bulb. In addition, because the photon emitteris not continuously emitting photons, the amount of heat produced fromthe photon emitter will be significantly reduced, thereby significantlyreducing the cost of cooling a facility to compensate for the increasedheat from lighting. The system of the present disclosure may becustomized based upon bird-specific requirements for photon intensity,pulse ON duration, pulse OFF (or duty cycle), the light spectrum of thepulse including but not limited to white, near-red, yellow, green, andblue, orange, far-red, infrared, and ultra-violet to encourage optimalovulation, hunger, mood and sexual development for selected birds suchas chickens, ducks, quail or turkeys.

As shown in FIG. 1, a master logic controller (MLC) 102, such assolid-state circuit with digital output control or a central processingunit (CPU) is in communication with a photon emission modulationcontroller 104 by means of a communication signal 134. The MLC 102provides the system of the present disclosure with input/output of theparameters and the appropriate instructions or the specialized functionsfor the modulation of photons from a photon emitter 106 and 108.

In a further embodiment, the MLC 102 may be hard wired or wireless to anexternal source such as a host, allowing external access to the MLC 102by a host. This allows remote access by a user to monitor the input andoutput of the MLC 102, provide instructions or control to the systemswhile also allowing for remote programming and monitoring of the MLC102.

In a further embodiment, a power measurement or power consumption sensormay be integrated or embedded into the MLC 102 in the form of anintegrated circuit allowing for the measurement and reporting of thepower consumption of the system based on the voltage and the currentdraw of the system of the present disclosure. The power consumption ofthe system can then be communicated either wirelessly or by hardwirefrom the MLC 102 to a host. Data, including power consumption may alsobe sent to an outside receiver such as a database that is not connectedto the system.

The photon emission modulation controller 104 receives commands andinstructions from the MLC 102, including but not limited to, theduration ON and intensity, duration OFF duty cycle, intensity,wavelength band and frequency of each repetitive photon pulse within aphoton signal 118 from a photon emitter 106. The photon emissionmodulation controller 104 may be any device that modulates the quantaand provides the control and command for the duration ON and intensity,duration OFF, wavelength band, and frequency of each repetitive photonpulse from a photon emitter 106 and 108. A variety of devices may beused as the photon emission modulation controller 104, including but notlimited to a solid-state relay (SSR), such as the Magnacraft 70S2 3Vsolid-state relay from Magnacraft Inc., optical choppers, powerconverters and other devices that induce modulation of a photon pulse. Avariety of photon emitters 106 and 108 may be used, including but notlimited to, an incandescent (Tungsten-halogen and Xenon), Fluorescent(CFL's), high intensity discharge (Metal Halide, High-Pressure Sodium,Low-Pressure Sodium, Mercury Vapor), sunlight, light emitting diodes(LEDs). It should be understood that this description is applicable toany such system with other types of photon emission modulationcontrollers, including other methods to cycle a light or photon sourceON and OFF, cycling one or more colors or spectrums of light atdifferent times, durations and intensities, such as ultraviolet, violet,near-red, green, yellow, orange, blue and far-red, allowing multiplepulses of one spectrum before pulsing another spectrum or incombination, as will be understood by one skilled in the art, once theyunderstand the principles of the embodiments. It should also beunderstood that this ON and OFF cycling can be in the form of a digitalpulse, pulse train, or varying waveform.

As shown in FIG. 1, based on the instructions from the MLC 102, thephoton emission modulation controller 104 sends a photon emissioncontrol signal 136 to a photon emitter 106. When the photon emissioncontrol signal 136 is sent to the photon emitter 106 goes ON, the photonemitter 106 emits at least one photon signal 118 where each photonsignal comprises one or more repetitive photon pulses, where eachrepetitive photon pulse has separate duration ON with one or moreintensities, a wavelength band and frequency, which is transmitted to abird 122. Then based on the instructions from the MLC 102, when thephoton emitter control signal 136 sent to the photon emitter 108 goesOFF, the photon emitter 108 will not emit a photon pulse, and thereforeno photons are transmitted to a bird 122. As shown in FIG. 1, startingfrom the left side of FIG. 1, the emission of photons 118, such as apulse of near-red photons, and bird 122 ovulation and egg production 124is shown over a period of time 120. The example of FIG. 1 provides aphoton signal 118, such as near-red, emitted from a photon emitter 106for two (2) milliseconds with a duration of delay of two hundred (200)milliseconds before a second photon signal 118 is emitted from the samephoton emitter 106 for two milliseconds (please note that FIG. 1 is adescriptive example of photon pulses emitted over time. FIG. 1 is notdrawn to scale and the amount of growth by the bird between pulses inFIG. 1 is not necessarily accurate).

As will be understood by one skilled in art, in an additionalembodiment, the system as described in FIG. 1 may be completely housedin a single unit comprising multiple photon emitters creating an array(shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 7, FIGS. 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d , and FIG. 9), allowingeach individual single unit to be self-sufficient, without the need foran external control or logic unit. An example self-sufficient unit withmultiple photon emitters may be in the form of a unit that may beconnected to a light socket, or light fixtures that may be suspendedabove one or more birds and connected to a power source.

The systems as shown in FIG. 1 may also take the form of a master/slavesystem, as will be discussed in FIG. 4, where by example, a masterphoton emitter containing all logic and controls for the emission ofphoton from master photon emitter as well as any additional photonemitters in communication with the master photon emitter.

A variety of power supplies may be used in the present disclosure. Thesesources of power may include but are not limited to battery, convertersfor line power, solar and/or wind power. The intensity of the photonpulse may be static with distinct ON/OFF cycles or the intensity may bechanges of 1% or larger of the quanta of the photon pulse. The intensityof the photon pulse from the photon emitter can be controlled throughthe variance of voltage and/or current from the power supplies anddelivered to the light source. It will also be appreciated by oneskilled in the art as to the support circuitry that will be required forthe system of the present disclosure, including the photon emittercontrol unit and the photon emitters. Further, it will be appreciatedthat the configuration, installation and operation of the requiredcomponents and support circuitry are well known in the art. The programcode, if a program code is utilized, for performing the operationsdisclosed herein will be dependent upon the particular processor andprogramming language utilized in the system of the present disclosure.Consequently, it will be appreciated that the generation of a programcode from the disclosure presented herein would be within the skill ofan ordinary artisan.

FIG. 2 provide two different block diagrams showing examples of a photonmodulation management system 200. As shown in FIG. 2 and repeated fromFIG. 1, a photon emitter 106 and 108 is shown over a period of time incommunication with a photon emission modulation controller 104 for thepurpose of modulating individual pulses of photons comprising individualcolor spectrums to a bird, including but not limited to white, green,near-red, blue, yellow orange, far-red, infrared, and ultra-violet colorspectrums, wavelength between 0.1 nm and 1 cm. As will be understood byone skilled in the art, the present disclosure may include colorspectrums of specific, individual wavelengths between 0.1 nm and 1.0 cm,or may include a range or band of wavelengths 0.1 to 200 nm in width,herein “wavelength band.”

The modulation of individual color spectrums of photons to a bird byproviding specific color spectrum pulses for a duration along with adelay between pulses, allows for peak stimulation of a bird's biologicalcomponents and responses, such as a bird's retina opsins andhypothalamus opsins for egg production. Examples of the ability tocontrol specific aspects of a bird's biological components or responsesthrough the pulsing of individual color spectrums, specific colorwavelength or a range of color wavelengths may include, but are notlimited to:

-   -   a. egg production through the modulation of pulses of a specific        far-red or in combination with near red wavelengths (example        wavelengths may include 620 nm to 850 nm) for a period of time;    -   b. hunger, growth, sexual development as well as helps to        control the mood of the birds by pulses of blue light, as well        as the regulation of circadian rhythms (an example range may        include with a range of 450 nm to 495 nm);    -   c. ultraviolet or violet light (by example 10 nm to 450 nm) may        be used to influence social behavior and mood as well as to        facilitate nutrient update such as calcium;    -   d. green light (such as 560 nm, but may include 495 nm to 570        nm) may be used to promote or stimulate growth, including muscle        growth, improve reproduction as well as egg quality; and    -   e. additional orange light (590 nm to 620 nm) and/or yellow        light (570 nm to 590 nm) may also be used to influence bird        responses.

The modulation of individual color spectrums, specific wavelength and arange of wavelengths of photons to a bird by providing specific colorspectrum pulses for a duration along with a delay between pulses alsoallows for the control of growth or biological responses, such as mood,growth, ovulation, sexual maturity, and hunger in birds. An example mayinclude one light or through the combination of many lights, cycling thelights on and off to control ovulation and growth in a bird.

As shown in FIG. 2 and repeated from FIG. 1, a master logic controller(MLC) 102 is in communication with a photon emission modulationcontroller 104 by means of a communication signal 134. The MLC 102provides the system of the present disclosure with input/output of theparameters and the appropriate instructions or the specialized functionsfor the modulation of a specific individual color spectrum of photonsfrom a photon emitter 106 and 108.

The photon emission modulation controller 104 receives commands andinstructions from the MLC 102 including but not limited to the durationON and intensity, duration OFF, wavelength band and frequency of eachrepetitive photon pulse 202 and 204 within a photon signal 118 or aplurality of pulses of a specific color spectrum from a photon emitter106 and 108 within a photon signal. The photon emission modulationcontroller 104 provides the control and command for the duration ON andintensity, duration OFF, wavelength band and frequency of eachrepetitive photon pulse 202 and 204 within a photon signal 118 orplurality of pulses from a photon emitter 106, and 108.

As shown in FIG. 2, based on the instructions from the MLC 102, thephoton emission modulation controller 104 sends a photon emissioncontrol signal 136 to a photon emitter 106 and 108. When the photonemission control signal 136 sent to the photon emitter 106 ON, thephoton emitter 106 emits one or more repetitive photon pulses of aspecific color spectrum 202 or 204, comprising the photon signal 118,which is transmitted to a bird 122. Then based on the instructions fromthe MLC 102, when the photon emitter control signal 136 sent to thephoton emitter 108 goes OFF, the photon emitter 108 will not emit aphoton signal, and therefore no photons are transmitted to a bird 122.As shown in FIG. 2, starting from the left side of FIG. 2, the emissionof a photon signal 118 comprising repetitive photon pulses of a specificcolor spectrum 202 (green) and 204 (far-red) and bird 122 ovulation andegg production 124 is shown over a period of time 120. The example ofFIG. 2 provides a photon signal 118 with photon pulse or plurality ofpulses of a green color spectrum 202 emitted from a photon emitter 106for two (2) milliseconds, followed by a photon pulse or plurality ofpulses of a far-red color spectrum 204 for a duration of two (2)milliseconds with a duration of delay of two hundred (200) millisecondsof each pulse before the photon signal repeats with a photon pulse orplurality of pulses 202 emitted from the same photon emitter 106 for twomilliseconds followed by a second photon pulse or plurality of pulses ofa far-red color spectrum 204 for a duration of two milliseconds from thesame photon emitter 114 (please note that FIG. 2 is a descriptiveexample of photon pulses emitted over time. FIG. 2 is not drawn to scaleand the amount of growth or egg production by the bird between pulses inFIG. 2 is not necessarily to scale). While two photon pulses are shownin FIG. 2, as one skilled in the art will understand once theyunderstand the invention, any number of pulses, from 1 to 15 or evenmore, may be within a photon signal.

The system of the present disclosure as described in FIGS. 1 and 2allows for the manipulation and control of various responses by a birdthrough the cycling of one or more colors or spectrums of light atdifferent times, durations and intensities, such as near-red, green,blue and far-red, allowing single pulses or multiple pulses of onespectrum with a delay before pulsing another spectrum. The pulsing ofindividual color spectrums in unison or individually for a duration witha delay between pulses allows for increased efficiency and speed fromovulation to finishing through control of the bird responses. The systemdescribed herein provides the ability to keep a bird in a particularresponse such as hunger or a specific mood.

By way of example, studies have shown that using the pulse of specificcolor spectrums to a bird, groups of birds may be induced to ovulate. Atthis point protocols may be changed on one group to encourage and allowfor hunger or mood control.

A variety of sources or devices may be used to produce photons from thephoton emitters, many of which are known in the art. However, an exampleof a devices or sources suitable for the emission or production ofphotons from a photon emitter include an LED, which may be packagedwithin an LED array designed to create a desired spectrum of photons.While LEDs are shown in this example, it will be understood by oneskilled in the art that a variety of sources may be used for theemission of photons including but not limited to metal halide light,fluorescent light, high-pressure sodium light, incandescent light andLEDs. Please note that if a metal halide light, fluorescent light,high-pressure sodium light, incandescent light is used with the methods,systems and apparatuses described herein, the proper use of these formsof photon emitters would be to modulate and then filter the light tocontrol what wavelength for what duration is passed through.

Embodiments of the present disclosure can apply to LEDs having variousdurations of photon emissions, including durations of photon emissionsof specific color spectrums and intensity. The pulsed photon emissionsof specific color spectrums within a photon signal may be longer orshorter depending on the bird in question, the age of the bird and howthe emission will be used in facilitating biochemical processes for birdgrowth.

The use of an array of LEDs may be controlled to provide the optimalphoton pulse of one or more color spectrums for specific bird ovulationor growth such as in chickens or turkeys. The user may simply select thephoton pulse intensity, color spectrum, frequency and duty cycle for aparticular type of bird to encourage efficient biological responses inbirds. LED packages can be customized to meet each bird's specificrequirements. By using packaged LED arrays with the customized pulsedphoton emission, as discussed above, embodiments described herein may beused to control light to alter the shell thickness, bird weight, andsexual maturity within the target bird.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an example of a plurality of photon emitters 106and 108 with LED arrays 300 as the source of photons from the photonemitter. As shown in FIG. 3, a photon emission modulation controller 104is in communication by means of a plurality of photon emitter controlsignals 136 with a plurality of photon emitters 106 and 108. As furthershown in FIG. 3, each photon emitter 106 and 108, comprises an array ofLEDs 302, 304, 306 and 308. Each array of LEDs 302, 304, 306 and 308 andthe circuitry to allow for the array of LEDs to communicate with thephoton emission modulation controller 104 are contained in an LED arrayhousing 310, 312, 314 and 316.

As shown in FIG. 3, the shape of LED array is a circle, however as willbe understood by one skilled in the art, the shape of the array may takea variety of forms based upon the needed biological response of thebirds. The shape of the array may include but is not limited to,circular, square, rectangular, triangular, octagonal, pentagonal, ropelighting and a variety of other shapes.

The LED array housing 310, 312, 314 and 316 for each photon emitter 106and 108, may be made of a variety of suitable materials including, butare not limited to, lastic, thermoplastic, and other types of polymericmaterials. Composite materials or other engineered materials may also beused. In some embodiments, the housing may be made by a plasticinjection molding manufacturing process. In some embodiments, thehousing may be transparent or semi-transparent and in any color.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of an example of a plurality of photon emitters witha master photon emitter in communication and control of one or moreslave photon emitters, 400. As shown in FIG. 4, a master photon emitter402 is in communication by means of a photon control signal 136 with aseries of slave photon emitters 404, 406, and 408. The master photonemitter 402 contains a controller, such as the MLC (102 of FIGS. 1 and2), as well as photon emission modulation controller (shown as 104 FIGS.1 and 2) which controls the duration ON and intensity, duration OFF, andfrequency of each specific color spectrum photon pulse within eachphoton signal from an array of LEDs housed within the master photonemitter 402 while also allowing the master photon emitter to control theduration ON and intensity, duration OFF, and frequency of each specificcolor spectrum photon pulse within each photon signal from each slavephoton emitters 404, 406, and 408.

Conversely, each slave photon emitter 404, 406, and 408 contains thecircuitry to receive command signals 136 from the master photon emitter402 and the circuitry necessary to emit a photon pulse of a specificspectrum from an array of LEDs (such as near-red, far-red, blue, greenor orange) housed within each slave photon emitter 404, 406, and 408.For clarity, each slave photon emitter does not contain a controllersuch as the MLC nor does the slave photon emitter 404, 406, and 408contain a photon emission modulation controller. All commands andcontrols for the slave photon emitter 404, 406, and 408 are receivedfrom the master photon emitter 402. This master/slave system allows forsharing of a single power supply and microcontroller. Master has thepower supply and that power is also transferred to the slaves.Additionally, the master/slave system can be utilized to pulse photonsin patterns to help stimulate the biological response in other birds.

A bus system may be included in MLC of the master photon emitter 402 orin each slave photon emitter 404, 406 and 408 to allow for the specificcontrol by the master photon emitter 402 of each individual slave photonemitter 404, 406 and 408. By way of example, the master photon emitter402 may send a signal 136 to a specific slave photon emitter 404commanding the slave photon emitter 404 to emit photon signal with afar-red pulse for a specific duration, while the master photon emitter402 simultaneously sends a command signal 136 to a second slave photonemitter 406 to emit a photon signal with green pulse for a specificduration. While this descriptive example shows an array, plurality orchain of three slave photon emitters 404, 406 and 408 in with a masterphoton emitter 402, it should be understood that this description isapplicable to any such system with any number of slave photon emittersin communication and under the control of a master photon emitter, aswill be understood by one skilled in the art, once they understand theprinciples of the embodiments.

In a further embodiment, the master photon emitter 402 may be hard wiredor wireless to allow external access to the master photon emitter 402 bya host, allowing remote access to monitor the input and output of themaster photon emitter 402 while also allowing for remote programming ofthe master photon emitter.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an example of a master logic controller incommunication and control of one or more photon emitters, 500. As shownin FIG. 5, a master logic controller 102 is in communication by means ofa photon emission control signal 136 with a series of photon emitters106, 502, 504 and 506 located above four different birds 512, 514, 516or 518. In this example, the master logic controller or MLC 102 (aspreviously discussed in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) also contains a photonemission modulation controller 104 (shown discussed in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3)which allows the MLC 102 to control the duration ON and intensity,duration OFF, and frequency of each specific color spectrum photon pulsewithin a photon signal from an array of LEDs housed within each photonemitter 106, 502, 504 and 506.

Through the photon emission modulation controller 104, the MLC 102communicates commands and instructions to each photon emitter 106, 502,504 and 506 including but not limited to the duration ON, intensity,duration OFF and frequency of each specific color spectrum photon pulsewithin each photon signal 508 and 510 from each photon emitter 106, 502,504 and 506. The MLC 102 also maintains control of the power supply tothe system and control the transfer of power to each individual photonemitter 106, 502, 504 and 506.

As shown in FIG. 5, based on the instructions from the MLC 102, thephoton emission modulation controller 104 sends a photon emissioncontrol signal 136 to each individual photon emitter 106, 502, 504 and506. Based on the specific instructions sent to each photon emitter 106,502, 504 and 506, individual photon emitters 106 or 506 will emit aphoton signal comprising repetitive photon pulses of one or morespecific color spectrums 508 and 510 to a bird 512, 514, 516 or 518(such as a photon signal with a far-red pulse and a near-red pulse 508at various durations ON and OFF or a photon signal with pulse offar-red, a pulse of near-red and a pulse of blue at various durations ONand OFF 510). As further shown in FIG. 5, based on the instructions fromthe MLC 102, other individual photon emitters 502 or 504 may not emit aphoton signal toward a bird 122 for a duration.

The ability of the MLC 102 to control the photon output or emission fromeach individual photon emitter 106, 502, 504 and 506 allows the systemof the present disclosure to modify the photon emission to a bird basedon the specific needs or requirements for a bird. As discussed inassociation with FIG. 2, by way of example, the MLC may be programmed toissue a signal to a specific emitter for modulation of pulses of far-redlight for a period of time followed by pulses of blue light within asignal in combination with near-red light for the control of biologicalresponses in birds such as ovulation/egg laying and mood/hunger.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, all commands and controls for eachphoton emitter 106, 502, 504 and 506 are received externally from theMLC 102. However, as will be understood by one skilled in the art, thelogic and hardware associated with the MLC 102 and photon emissionmodulation controller 104 may also be housed within each individualphoton emitter, allowing each individual photon emitter to beself-sufficient, without the need for an external control or logic unit.

In a further embodiment, the MLC 102 may be hard wired or wireless,allowing external access to the MLC 102 by a user. This allows remoteaccess by a user to monitor the input and output of the MLC 102 whilealso allowing for remote programming of the MLC 102.

FIG. 6 provides an example of a further embodiment, showing the photonmodulation system of the present disclosure where one or more sensorsare used to monitor a bird's environmental conditions as well as thebird's responses 600. As shown in FIG. 6, one or more sensors 602, 604,606 and 608 are associated with each bird 618, 620, 622, and 624 inorder to monitor various conditions associated with the bird 618, 620,622, and 624. The conditions associated with the bird or birds which maybe monitored include but are not limited to, humidity, air temperature,volume, movement, O₂, CO₂, CO, pH, and weight. As will be understood byone skilled in the art, the sensors may include but are not limited totemperature sensor, an infrared sensor, motion sensor, microphones, gassensors, cameras, and scales.

The sensors 602, 604, 606 and 608 monitor one or more conditionsassociated with the bird or birds 618, 620, 622, and 624 and thentransmit the data 610, 612, 614 or 616 to the MLC 102. Transferring thedata from the one or more sensors 602, 604, 606 and 608 to the MLC 102can be accomplished in a number of ways, either wirelessly or hardwired. As will be understood by one skilled in art, a variety ofcommunication systems may be used for the delivery of sensor-derivedinformation from the bird 618, 620, 622, and 624 to the a MLC 102.

The data from the one or more sensors 602, 604, 606 and 608 is analyzedby the MLC 102. Based on the information from the sensors, the MLC 102,through the photon emission modulation controller 104, the MLC 102 isable to adjust the duration ON, intensity, duration OFF, duty cycle andfrequency of each specific color spectrum photon pulse of each photonsignal 118 of each individual photon emitter 106, and 108, or to adjustthe duration ON, intensity, duration OFF, duty cycle and frequency of agroup of photon emitters based on the needs of the individual birds 618,620, 622, and 624 associated with a specific sensor 602, 604, 606 and608 or the needs of the birds as a whole. An example may includeadjusting a pulse to comprise both blue and far-red 118 at variousdurations or adjusting duration of a pulse of far-red, green and blue610.

In additional embodiments, the system of the present disclosure may alsoinclude a watering system, feeding systems, environmental as well ashealth system (not shown in FIG. 6) in communication and under thecontrol of the MLC 102 or a separate logic controller. Based oninformation from the sensors 602, 604, 606 and 608 associated with eachbird or birds, the MLC 102 is able to communicate with a wateringsystem, feeding system, heating and cooling systems, medication systemsbased upon the needs of the birds. Data, including power can be sent toan outside receiver such as a database that is not connected to thesystem.

FIG. 7 provides an example of one embodiment of an array of LEDs incommunication with a series of solid-state relays or SSRs 700. As shownin FIG. 7 and repeated from FIG. 1, a MLC 102 is in communication bymeans of a communication signal 134 with a photon emission modulationcontroller 104. The photon emission modulation controller 104 of thisexample contains three SSRs. The MLC 102 outputs a signal to control theSSRs. The first SSR controls an array of near-red LEDs 702, the secondSSR controls an array of far-red LEDs 704 and the third SSR to controlsan array of blue LEDs 706. Each SSR 702, 704 and 706 is in communicationwith an array of LEDs, 714, 716 and 718 by means of a photon emissionsignal 136. As shown in FIG. 7, the near-red SSR 702 sends a photonemission signal 136 to initiate a photon pulse of the near-red LEDS 714comprising a near-red voltage 708 to an array of near-red LEDs 714. Thenear-red voltage 708 is then transmitted from the array of near-red LEDs714 to a series of resistors 720, 742, 738, such as a 68 ohm resistor,with each resistor 720, 742 and 738 connected to a ground 744.

As further shown in FIG. 7, the far-red SSR 704 sends a photon emissionsignal 136 to initiate a photon pulse of far-red LEDs comprising afar-red voltage 710 to an array of red LEDs 718. The red voltage 710 isthen transmitted from the red LED array 718 and a series of resistors724, 728, 732 and 734, such as 390 ohm resistor with each resistor 724,728, 732 and 734 connected to a ground 744. FIG. 7 also shows the blueSSR 706 sending a photon emission signal 136 to initiate a photon pulseof blue LEDs comprising a blue voltage 712 to an array of blue LEDs 716.The blue voltage 712 is then transmitted from the array of blue LEDs 716and transmitted to a series of resistors 722, 726, 730, 736 and 740,such as a 150 ohm resistor, with each resistor 722, 726, 730, 736 and740 connected to a ground 744.

FIGS. 8a to 8d show various aspects of an example light assembly for theemission of photons within a signal for use in systems and methodsdescribed herein. FIG. 8a is a photo showing a power converter, serialperipheral interface (SPI), and microcontroller of a multiple coloreddie within a light assembly. FIG. 8b is a photo showing the backside ofthe multiple colored die within the light assembly of FIG. 8a . FIG. 8cis a photo showing the high-speed switching circuitry for flashing ofthe multiple colored die within the light assembly of FIG. 8a . FIG. 8dis a photo showing the backside of the light assembly of FIG. 8c with areplaceable multicolor die LED.

The light assembly of FIGS. 8a to 8d may be used in several embodimentsdescribed herein, including a master/slave system, where a master photonemitter contains all logic and controls for the emission of photons andsignals from the master photon emitter as well as any additional photonemitters in communication with the master photon emitter. The lightassembly of FIGS. 8a-8d may also be used in a controller system. Asdiscussed above, controller is in communication with two or more photonemitters

FIG. 9 provides an example layout of LEDs within a LED array 900. Asshown in FIG. 9, twelve LEDs form an array of photon emitters 302 in aphoton emitter housing 310. The sample layout includes 400 nm (violet)902, 436 nm (deep blue) 904, 450 nm (royal blue) 906, 460 nm (dentalblue) 908, 490 nm (cyan) 910, 525 nm (green) 912, 590 nm (amber) 914,625 nm (red) 916, 660 nm (deep red) 918, and 740 nm (far red) 920.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram showing the method of modulation of individualcolor spectrums pulsed for bird growth 1000. As shown in FIG. 10, instep 1002, the master logic controller receives instructions regardingeach individual color spectrum to be pulsed, the duration of each pulseof each color spectrum, the combination of colors to be pulsed andduration of delay between each color spectrum pulse. Instructions andinformation sent to the master logic controller may relate to the photonpulse duration of each color to be pulsed, photon pulse delay,intensity, frequency, duty cycle, bird type, state of maturity of thebird and the type of egg production as well as young and broiler birdgrowth and behavior that is desired to be induced. In step 1004, themaster logic controller sends instructions to the photon emissionmodulation controller regarding each color spectrum to be pulsed, theduration of each pulse of each color spectrum, combination of colorspulse and duration of delay between different color spectrums. In step1006, the photon emission modulation controller sends at least onesignal to one or more photon emitters capable of emitting pulses of oneor more individual color spectrums toward a bird, such as green LEDs,far-red LEDs, blue LEDs and orange LEDs. In step 1008, one or morephoton emitters emit one or more photon pulses of individual colorspectrums directed to a bird.

FIG. 11 provides an additional embodiment of the present disclosure,showing a flow diagram of the stimulation of a desired response of abird based on information from bird sensors 1100. As shown in step 1102,a bird sensor monitors one or more conditions associated with theenvironment of a bird. The conditions to be monitored include, but arenot limited to, the air temperature, humidity, the bird's bodytemperature, weight, sound, movement of the birds, infrared, O₂, CO₂ andCO. In step 1104, the bird sensor sends data regarding the environmentalor physical conditions associated with a bird to the MLC. The MLC thenanalyzes the data sent from the bird sensor or the analysis may be doneby a third party software program that is remote to the system. In step1106, based on the information from the bird sensor, the MLC sendsinstructions to change an embodiment of the environment such as airtemperature or humidity. In step 1108, the environmental systeminitiates an event to one or more animals based on the analysis of thedata from the sensor. As will be understood by one skilled in the art,the adjustment of the event can be on a micro level, such as anadjustment to the environment of one specific bird or the adjustment canbe on a macro level such as an entire growth chamber or operation. Instep 1110, based on the information from the bird sensor the MLC sendsinstructions to a feeding system, nutrient system or nutrient source,such as a drip, nutrient film or nutrient injection system, regardingthe timing and/or concentration of the nutrient to be distributed to abird during a nutrient event. In step 1112, nutrient system initiates anutrient event where nutrients are directed to a bird based on theanalysis of the data from the bird sensor. As will be understood by oneskilled in the art, the adjustment of the nutrient event can be on amicro level, such as an adjustment to the nutrients to one specific birdor the adjustment can be on a macro level such as an entire growthchamber or operation. In step 1114, based on the analysis of the datafrom the bird sensor, the MLC sends instructions to the photon emissionmodulation controller adjusting the duration, intensity, color spectrumand/or duty cycle of each photon pulse between different pulses of colorspectrums to a specific an animal or to a group of animals. In step1116, the photon emission modulation controller sends a signal to one ormore photon emitters adjusting the duration, intensity, color spectrumand/or duty cycle of each photon pulse between different pulses of colorspectrums to a specific animal or to a group of animals. In step 1118,based on the signal received from the photon emission modulationcontroller, one or more photon emitters emit one or more photon pulsesof individual color spectrums directed to an animal or to a group ofanimals.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing an example photon signal with a repetitivephoton pulse of near-red, showing a duration ON and a duration OFF forthe controlled stimulation of ovulation in birds and egg laying inbirds. As shown in FIG. 12 and previously described in FIGS. 1-11, anexample of the cycling of a photon signal with repetitive photon pulsesof one color spectrums within the photon signal is provided where aphoton signal having a repetitive near-red photon pulse is emitted froma photon emitter. As shown in the graph near-red spectrum is pulsedfirst followed by a delay. Next, a second pulse comprising of near-redspectrum is again pulsed followed by a delay. This photon signal may berepeated indefinitely or until the bird ovulation and bird eggproduction under and receiving the photon pulses have reached theirdesired production amount. While in this descriptive example of a photonsignal having a repetitive photon pulse set comprising offset pulsing ofone color spectrum, it should be understood that this description isapplicable to any such system with other emissions of photon pulses overa period of time, as various combinations of pulses of color spectrumsincluding but not limited to near-red, far-red, infra-red, green blue,yellow, orange and ultraviolet excluding the standard analog frequencylighting emission standards of the United States of 60 Hz and Europe of50 Hz. Examples of the photon pulse duration between pulses of eachindividual color spectrum or color spectrum combinations may include butare not limited to, 0.01 microseconds to 5000 milliseconds and allintegers in between. The system of the present disclosure also allowsfor other durations between pulses of each individual color spectrum orcolor spectrum combinations including but not limited to 0.1 microsecondto 24 hours, and all integers in between. The system of the presentdisclosure may be programmed to allow for variations of photon emissionas well as variations of photon emission delay to allow for events suchas extended dark cycles.

FIG. 13 is a graph showing an example photon signal containing photonpulses of two color spectrums, near-red and far red. The time scale onthis chart is not to scale but serves as an example embodimentexhibiting the variation of color spectrum, duration ON, duration OFFfrequency and duty cycle within a photon signal that may be utilized tostimulate ovulation. As shown in FIG. 13 and previously described inFIGS. 1-11, another example of the cycling of photon pulses of variouscolor spectrum of the present disclosure is provided where a photonsignal comprising photon pulses of two color spectrums are emitted froma photon emitter. As shown in the graph a far-red spectrum is pulsedfirst followed by a delay and then a pulse of a near-red spectrum andthen followed by a delay. Next, a second pulse of near red is initiated,followed by a delay, followed by an individual pulse of far-red. Thisphoton signal may be repeated indefinitely or until the desired birdresponse has been initiated. As discussed above, this example may alsobe used to stimulate ovulation or to reset the bird's circadian rhythm.While in this descriptive example of a photon pulse set comprisingoffset pulsing of two color spectrums, it should be understood that thisdescription is applicable to any such system with other emissions ofphoton pulses over a period of time, as various combinations of pulsesof color spectrums including but not limited to near-red, far-red,infra-red, green, blue, yellow, orange and ultraviolet excluding thestandard analog frequency lighting emission standards of the UnitedStates of 60 Hz and Europe of 50 Hz. Examples of the photon pulseduration between pulses of each individual color spectrum or colorspectrum combinations may include but is not limited to, 0.01microseconds to 5000 milliseconds and all integers in between. Thesystem of the present disclosure also allows for other durations betweenpulses of each individual color spectrum or color spectrum combinationsincluding but not limited to 0.1 microsecond to 24 hours, and allintegers in between. The system of the present disclosure may beprogrammed to allow for variations of photon emission as well asvariations of photon emission delay to allow for events such as extendeddark cycles.

FIG. 14 is a graph showing a second example photon signal containingphoton pulses of two color spectrums, near-red and far red. Again, thetime scale on this chart is not to scale but serves as an exampleembodiment exhibiting the variation of color spectrum, duration ON,duration OFF frequency and duty cycle within a photon signal that may beutilized to stimulate ovulation. As shown in FIG. 14 and previouslydescribed in FIGS. 1-11, another example of the cycling of photon pulsesof various color spectrum of the present disclosure is provided wherephoton signal comprising photon pulses of two color spectrums areemitted from a photon emitter. As shown in the graph, a far-red spectrumis pulsed in a series or pulse train of five pulses followed by a pulseof a near-red spectrum and then followed by a delay. This photon signalmay be repeated indefinitely or until the desired bird response has beeninitiated. As discussed above, this example may also be used tostimulate ovulation or to reset the bird's circadian rhythm. While inthis descriptive example of a photon pulse set comprising offset pulsingof two color spectrums, it should be understood that this description isapplicable to any such system with other emissions of photon pulses overa period of time, as various combinations of pulses of color spectrumsincluding but not limited to near-red, far-red, infra-red, green, blue,yellow, orange and ultraviolet; excluding the standard analog frequencylighting emission standards of the United States of 60 Hz and Europe of50 Hz. Examples of the photon pulse duration between pulses of eachindividual color spectrum or color spectrum combinations may include butare not limited to, 0.01 microseconds to 5000 milliseconds and allintegers in between. The system of the present disclosure also allowsfor other durations between pulses of each individual color spectrum orcolor spectrum combinations including but not limited to 0.1 microsecondto 24 hours, and all integers in between. The system of the presentdisclosure may be programmed to allow for variations of photon emissionas well as variations of photon emission delay to allow for events suchas extended dark cycles.

FIG. 15 is a graph showing an example photon signal containing photonpulses of two color spectrums, blue and green. The time scale on thischart is not to scale but serves as an example embodiment exhibiting thevariation of color spectrum, frequency and duty cycle that may beutilized to stimulate hunger or a specific mood and to reset thecircadian rhythm of the bird. As shown in FIG. 15 and previouslydescribed in FIGS. 1-11, another example of the cycling of photon pulsesof various color spectrums of the present disclosure is provided wherephoton pulses of two color spectrums are emitted from a photon emitter.As shown in the graph pulses of blue and green are pulsed first followedby a delay. Next, a second pulse of blue is initiated, followed by adelay, followed by an individual pulse of green. This cycle may berepeated indefinitely or until the desired bird response has beeninitiated. As discussed above, this example may also be used tostimulate hunger, mood or even to reset the birds circadian rhythm.While in this descriptive example of a photon pulse set comprisingoffset pulsing of two color spectrums, it should be understood that thisdescription is applicable to any such system with other emissions ofphoton pulses over a period of time, as various combinations of pulsesof color spectrums including but not limited to near-red, far-red,infra-red, green, blue, yellow, orange and ultraviolet; excluding thestandard analog frequency lighting emission standards of the UnitedStates of 60 Hz and Europe of 50 Hz. Examples of the photon pulseduration between pulses of each individual color spectrum or colorspectrum combinations may include but are not limited to, 0.01microseconds to 5000 milliseconds and all integers in between. Thesystem of the present disclosure also allows for other durations betweenpulses of each individual color spectrum or color spectrum combinationsincluding but not limited to 0.1 microsecond to 24 hours, and allintegers in between. The system of the present disclosure may beprogrammed to allow for variations of photon emission as well asvariations of photon emission delay to allow for events such as extendeddark cycles.

FIG. 16 graph showing an example photon signal containing photon pulsesof three color spectrums, near-red, blue and green. The time scale onthis chart is not to scale but serves as an example embodimentexhibiting the variation of color spectrum, frequency and duty cyclethat may be utilized to stimulate ovulation, hunger or a specific moodand to reset the circadian rhythm of the bird. As shown in FIG. 16 andpreviously described in FIGS. 1-11, another example of the cycling ofphoton pulses of various color spectrums of the present disclosure isprovided where photon pulses of three color spectrums are emitted from aphoton emitter. As shown in the graph, a pulse of near red is providedfollowed by a delay. Next, a pulse of blue is initiated, followed by adelay, followed by an individual pulse of green. This cycle may berepeated indefinitely or until the desired bird response has beeninitiated. As discussed above, this example may also be used tostimulate ovulation, hunger, mood or even to reset the bird's circadianrhythm. While in this descriptive example of a photon pulse setcomprising offset pulsing of three color spectrums, it should beunderstood that this description is applicable to any such system withother emissions of photon pulses over a period of time, as variouscombinations of pulses of color spectrums including but not limited tonear-red, far-red, infra-red, green, blue, yellow, orange andultraviolet; excluding the standard analog frequency lighting emissionstandards of the United States of 60 Hz and Europe of 50 Hz. Examples ofthe photon pulse duration between pulses of each individual colorspectrum or color spectrum combinations may include but are not limitedto, 0.01 microseconds to 5000 milliseconds and all integers in between.The system of the present disclosure also allows for other durationsbetween pulses of each individual color spectrum or color spectrumcombinations including but not limited to 0.1 microsecond to 24 hours,and all integers in between. The system of the present disclosure may beprogrammed to allow for variations of photon emission as well asvariations of photon emission delay to allow for events such as extendeddark cycles.

FIG. 17 graph showing an example photon signal containing photon pulsesof five color spectrums, green, ultra-violet, orange, near-red, andblue. The time scale on this chart is not to scale but serves as anexample embodiment exhibiting the variation of color spectrum, frequencyand duty cycle that may be utilized to stimulate ovulation, hunger or aspecific mood and to reset the circadian rhythm of the bird. As shown inFIG. 17 and previously described in FIGS. 1-11, another example of thecycling of photon pulses of various color spectrum within a signal ofthe present disclosure is provided where photon pulses of five colorspectrums are emitted from a photon emitter. As shown in the graph,pulses of green and ultraviolet are provided followed by a delay. Next,a pulse of near red is initiated, followed by a delay, followed bypulses of green and ultraviolet. This cycle may be repeated with fivepulses of green and ultraviolet and three pulses of near red and then asingle pulse of blue and orange. This pulse signal may be repeatedindefinitely or until the desired bird response has been initiatedunder. As discussed above, this example may also be used to stimulateovulation, hunger, mood or even to reset the bird's circadian rhythm.While in this descriptive example of a photon pulse set comprisingoffset pulsing of three color spectrums, it should be understood thatthis description is applicable to any such system with other emissionsof photon pulses over a period of time, as various combinations ofpulses of color spectrums including but not limited to near-red,far-red, infra-red, green, blue, yellow, orange and ultraviolet;excluding the standard analog frequency lighting emission standards ofthe United States of 60 Hz and Europe of 50 Hz. Examples of the photonpulse duration between pulses of each individual color spectrum or colorspectrum combinations may include but are not limited to, 0.01microseconds to 5000 milliseconds and all integers in between. Thesystem of the present disclosure also allows for other durations betweenpulses of each individual color spectrum or color spectrum combinationsincluding but not limited to 0.1 microsecond to 24 hours, and allintegers in between. The system of the present disclosure may beprogrammed to allow for variations of photon emission as well asvariations of photon emission delay to allow for events such as extendeddark cycles.

FIG. 18 is a graph showing a third example photon signal containingphoton pulses of two color spectrums, near-red and far red. The timescale on this chart is not to scale but serves as an example embodimentexhibiting the variation of color spectrum, duration ON, duration OFFfrequency and duty cycle within a photon signal that may be utilized tostimulate ovulation. As shown in FIG. 18 and previously described inFIGS. 1-11, another example of the cycling of photon pulses of variouscolor spectrum within a signal of the present disclosure is providedwhere photon signal comprising photon pulses of two color spectrums areemitted from a photon emitter. As shown in the graph a far-red spectrumis pulsed first followed by a delay and then a pulse of a near-redspectrum and then followed by a delay. Next, a second pulse of near redis initiated followed by a delay followed by an individual pulse offar-red. This photon signal may be repeated indefinitely or until thedesired bird response has been initiated. As discussed above, thisexample may also be used to stimulate ovulation or to reset the bird'scircadian rhythm. While in this descriptive example of a photon pulseset comprising offset pulsing of two color spectrums, it should beunderstood that this description is applicable to any such system withother emissions of photon pulses over a period of time, as variouscombinations of pulses of color spectrums including but not limited tonear-red, far-red, infra-red, green, blue, yellow, orange andultraviolet; excluding the standard analog frequency lighting emissionstandards of the United States of 60 Hz and Europe of 50 Hz. Examples ofthe photon pulse duration between pulses of each individual colorspectrum or color spectrum combinations may include but are not limitedto, 0.01 microseconds to 5000 milliseconds and all integers in between.The system of the present disclosure also allows for other durationsbetween pulses of each individual color spectrum or color spectrumcombinations including but not limited to 0.1 microseconds to 24 hours,and all integers in between. The system of the present disclosure may beprogrammed to allow for variations of photon emission as well asvariations of photon emission delay to allow for events such as extendeddark cycles.

FIG. 19 is a graph showing an example photon signal containing photonpulses of two color spectrums, near-red and far red. The time scale onthis chart is not to scale but serves as an example embodimentexhibiting the variation of color spectrum, duration ON with varyingintensities, duration OFF frequency and duty cycle within a photonsignal that may be utilized to stimulate ovulation. As shown in FIG. 19and previously described in FIGS. 1-11, another example of the cyclingof photon pulses of various color spectrum of the present disclosure isprovided where photon signal comprising photon pulses of two colorspectrums are emitted from a photon emitter. As shown in the graph afar-red spectrum is pulsed first with a first intensity followed by adelay and then a pulse of far red and near-red spectrums with adifferent intensities and then followed by a delay. Next, a second pulseof near red and far red with different intensities followed by a delayfollowed by an individual pulse of far-red with a different intensityand then a near red with the same intensity. This photon signal may berepeated indefinitely or until the desired bird response has beenreceiving the photon pulses. As discussed above, this example may alsobe used to stimulate ovulation or to reset the bird's circadian rhythm.While in this descriptive example of a photon pulse set comprisingoffset pulsing of two color spectrums with varying intensities, itshould be understood that this description is applicable to any suchsystem with other emissions of photon pulses over a period of time, asvarious combinations of pulses of color spectrums including but notlimited to near-red, far-red, infra-red, green, blue, yellow, orange andultraviolet; excluding the standard analog frequency lighting emissionstandards of the United States of 60 Hz and Europe of 50 Hz. Examples ofthe photon pulse duration between pulses of each individual colorspectrum or color spectrum combinations may include but are not limitedto, 0.01 microseconds to 5000 milliseconds and all integers in between.The system of the present disclosure also allows for other durationsbetween pulses of each individual color spectrum or color spectrumcombinations including but not limited to 0.1 microsecond to 24 hours,and all integers in between. The system of the present disclosure may beprogrammed to allow for variations of photon emission as well asvariations of photon emission delay to allow for events such as extendeddark cycles.

Table 1 below provides a table of lighting options. As shown in Table 1,column one provides the name or designation of the lighting option orpulse signal, column two provides the color pulses in the lightingoption, column three is the duration ON of each pulse within the pulsesignal, column four is the duration OFF of each pulse within the pulsesignal, column five provides the time from ON to OFF, column six is theamperage of each color within the lighting option, and column seven isthe duration or length of time each option is active on a 24 hour basis.

TABLE 1 LIGHTING OPTIONS Lighting Duration Duration Ma of each Durationof Option Colors ON OFF Timing from t-0 color system on Option 1 Nearred 1 50 us 200 us ON - 0 600 24 hours Near red 2 OFF - 50 US Option 2Near red 1 50 us  50 us ON - 0 600 24 hours Near red 2 OFF - 50 US FarRed 50 us 100 us ON - 100 us 900 24 hours OFF - 150 us Option 3 Near red1 50 us  50 us ON - 0 600 6 hours ON Near red 2 OFF - 50 US 18 OFF FarRed 50 us 100 us ON - 100 us 900 6 hours ON OFF - 150 us 18 OFF Option 4Near red 1 50 us 200 us ON - 0 600 24 hour Near red 2 OFF - 50 US Option5 Near red 1 50 us 100 us ON - 0 600 6 hours ON Near red 2 OFF - 50 US18 OFF Far Red 50 us 500 us ON - 150 us 900 6 hours ON OFF - 200 us 18OFF Option 6 Near red 1 50 us  50 us ON - 0 600 6 hours ON Near red 2OFF - 50 US 18 OFF Far Red 50 us 100 us ON - 100 us 900 6 hours ON OFF -150 us 18 OFF Option 7 Green 50 us  50 us ON - 0 600 24 hours on OFF -50 US Far Red 50 us 100 us ON - 100 us 900 24 hours on OFF - 150 usOption 8 Blue 50 us  50 us ON - 0 600 24 hours on OFF - 50 US Far Red 50us 100 us ON - 100 us 900 24 hours on OFF - 150 us Option 9 Near red 150 us 100 us ON - 0 600 6 hours ON Near red 2 OFF - 50 US 18 OFF Green50 us 500 us ON - 150 us 600 6 hours ON OFF - 200 us 18 OFF Option 10Near red 1 50 us 100 us ON - 0 600 6 hours ON Near red 2 OFF - 50 US 18OFF Blue 50 us 500 us ON - 150 us 600 6 hours ON OFF - 200 us 18 OFFOption 11 Near red 1 50 us 100 us ON - 0 600 24 hours ON OFF - 50 USBlue 50 us 500 us ON - 150 us 600 24 hours ON OFF - 50 US Green 50 us 50 us ON - 0 600 24 hours ON OFF - 50 US Option 12 Near red 1 50 us 100us ON - 0 600 24 hours ON OFF - 50 US Blue 50 us 500 us ON - 150 us 60024 hours ON Orange OFF - 50 US Green 50 us  50 us ON - 0 600 24 hours ONUltraviolet OFF - 50 US Option 13 Blue 50 us  50 us ON - 150 us 600 24hours ON OFF- 50 US Green 50 us  50 us ON - 0 600 24 hours ON OFF - 50US Option 14 Blue 50 us  50 us ON - 150 us 600 24 hours ON OFF - 50 US

EXAMPLES

The following examples are provided to illustrate further the variousapplications and are not intended to limit the invention beyond thelimitations set forth in the appended claims.

Increased Average Egg Production

Six comparison studies were conducted in Greeley, Colo. in the winterand spring of 2016 using the lighting system and method of the currentdisclosure and compared to eggs produced in a commercially eggproduction system, using standard commercially available lights.

Eggs produced under the system of the present application describedherein were produced in compliance with the United Egg Producers AnimalHusbandry Guidelines using various strains of white leghorn varietiesraised from pullets. Birds were housed in cages in blackout grow tents,with one bird per cage, and eight birds per tent. Birds were fed anall-natural, 100% vegetarian diet comprised predominantly of corn,soybean meal, limestone, vitamins and minerals, matching the diets,feeding and watering times for the commercial comparison birds.

The commercial comparison for egg production was a conventional eggproduction facility located in northern Colorado. All eggs were producedin compliance with the United Egg Producers Animal Husbandry Guidelinesusing various strains of white leghorn varieties raised from pullets.Birds were fed all natural, 100% vegetarian diet comprised predominantlyof corn, soybean meal, limestone, vitamins and minerals. No hormones orstimulants were used. The commercial comparison egg producing birds werehoused under a computerized environment management system, whichmonitors and controls fans and temperature, the fluorescent lighting,turning feeders on and off and monitors the amount of water consumed.Eggs produced where counted every morning at 9 am and weighed using acommon scale.

Example 1 Average Egg Production—Lighting Option One

Table 2 shows a comparison of the average egg production rate to thetotal number of birds of the system and method of the currentapplication using lighting Option 1 (Table 1) when compared with averageegg production rate to the total number of birds in a conventionalproduction facility using conventional commercial lighting.

As shown in Table 2 and illustrated in FIG. 20, the comparison beganwith birds (chickens) 18 weeks old. Birds grown under the lighting ofthe system of the current application showed egg production beginning inweek 19, with 21.43% of birds producing eggs in week 20, 55.36% in week21 and finally reaching 100% production, or all birds producing eggs inweek 26. Conversely, the commercial comparison lighting systems beganproducing eggs in week 20, 3.78%, with 25.44% production in week 21,with 96.27% in week 26. As shown in Table 2, an increased percentage ofbirds grown under the lighting of the current application produced eggsfrom weeks 18 to 36 when compared to birds grown or living under acommercial lighting system.

TABLE 2 Average egg production per day Lighting Option 1 Percentage ofeggs production to total number of birds using the technology of theCommercial Comparison present disclosure Avg./Day Week 18 0 0.00% Week19 1.79% 0.00% Week 20 21.43% 3.78% Week 21 55.36% 25.44% Week 22 76.79%62.17% Week 23 83.93% 76.82% Week 24 89.29% 81.76% Week 25 91.07% 97.12%Week 26 100.00% 90.60% Week 27 94.64% 95.49% Week 28 100.00% 96.27% Week29 98.21% 95.18% Week 30 100.00% 97.12% Week 31 98.21% 95.92% Week 3298.21% 96.12% Week 33 98.2% 93.89% Week 34 96.4% 94.08% Week 35 98.2%93.30% Week 36 98.2% 96.04%

Example 2 Average Egg Production—Lighting Option Two

Table 3 shows a comparison of the average egg production rate to thetotal number of birds of the system and method of the currentapplication using lighting Option 2 (Table 1), when compared withaverage egg production rate to the total number of birds in aconventional production facility using conventional commercial lighting.

As shown in Table 3 and illustrated in FIG. 21, the comparison beganwith birds (chickens) 18 weeks old. Birds grown under the lighting ofthe system of the current application showed egg production beginning inweek 19, with 25.00% of birds producing eggs in week 20, 71.43% in week21 and finally reaching 100% production, or all birds producing eggs inweek 28. Conversely, the commercial comparison lighting systems beganproducing eggs in week 20, 3.78%, with 25.44% production in week 21,with 96.27% in week 26. As shown in Table 3, an increased percentage ofbirds grown under the lighting of the current application produced eggsfrom weeks 18 to 36 when compared to birds grown or living under acommercial lighting system.

TABLE 3 Average egg production per day Lighting Option 2 Percentage ofeggs production to total number of birds using the technology of theCommercial Comparison present disclosure Avg./Day Week 18 0 0.00% Week19 3.57% 0.00% Week 20 25.00% 3.78% Week 21 71.43% 25.44% Week 22 92.86%62.17% Week 23 96.43% 76.82% Week 24 96.43% 81.76% Week 25 92.86% 97.12%Week 26 98.21% 90.60% Week 27 96.43% 95.49% Week 28 100.00% 96.27% Week29 91.07% 95.18% Week 30 96.43% 97.12% Week 31 98.21% 95.92% Week 3292.86% 96.12% Week 33 92.86% 93.89% Week 34 87.50% 94.08% Week 35 89.29%93.30% Week 36 92.86% 96.04%

Example 3 Average Egg Production—Lighting Option Three

Table 4 shows a comparison of the average egg production rate to thetotal number of birds of the system and method of the currentapplication using lighting Option 3 (Table 1), when compared withaverage egg production rate to the total number of birds in aconventional production facility using conventional commercial lighting.

As shown in Table 4 and illustrated in FIG. 22, the comparison beganwith birds (chickens) 18 weeks old. Birds grown under the lighting ofthe system of the current application showed egg production beginning inweek 19, with 17.86% of birds producing eggs in week 20, 64.29% in week21 and finally reaching 100% production, or all birds producing eggs inweek 24. Conversely, the commercial comparison lighting systems beganproducing eggs in week 20, 3.78%, with 25.44% production in week 21,with 96.27% in week 26. As shown in Table 4 and illustrated in FIG. 22,an increased percentage of birds grown under the lighting of the currentapplication produced eggs from weeks 18 to 36 when compared to birdsgrown or living under a commercial lighting system.

TABLE 4 Average egg production per day Lighting Option 3 Percentage ofeggs production to total number of birds using the technology of theCommercial Comparison present disclosure Avg./Day Week 18 0 0.00% Week19 5.36% 0.00% Week 20 17.86% 3.78% Week 21 64.29% 25.44% Week 22 85.71%62.17% Week 23 98.21% 76.82% Week 24 100.00% 81.76% Week 25 98.21%97.12% Week 26 94.64% 90.60% Week 27 96.43% 95.49% Week 28 98.21% 96.27%Week 29 94.64% 95.18% Week 30 94.64% 97.12% Week 31 100.00% 95.92% Week32 94.64 96.12% Week 33 94.64% 93.89% Week 34 94.64% 94.08% Week 3591.07% 93.30% Week 36 91.07% 96.04%

Example 4 Average Egg Production—Lighting Option Four

Table 5 shows a comparison of the average egg production rate to thetotal number of birds of the system and method of the currentapplication using lighting Option 4, when compared with average eggproduction rate to the total number of birds in a conventionalproduction facility using conventional commercial lighting.

As shown in Table 5 and illustrated in FIG. 23, the comparison beganwith birds (chickens) 18 weeks old. Birds grown under the lighting ofthe system of the current application showed egg production beginning inweek 18, with 25.00% of birds producing eggs in week 20, 42.86% in week21 and finally reaching 96.43% production, or all birds producing eggsin week 24. Conversely, the commercial comparison lighting systems beganproducing eggs in week 20, 3.78%, with 25.44% production in week 21,with 96.27% in week 26. As shown in Table 5, an increased percentage ofbirds grown under the lighting of the current application produced eggsfrom weeks 18 to 36 when compared to birds grown or living under acommercial lighting system.

TABLE 5 Average egg production per day Lighting Option 4 Percentage ofeggs production to total number of birds using the technology of theCommercial Comparison present disclosure Avg./Day Week 18 0.00% 0.00%Week 19 3.57% 0.00% Week 20 25.00% 3.78% Week 21 42.86% 25.44% Week 2251.79% 62.17% Week 23 80.36% 76.82% Week 24 96.43% 81.76% Week 25 80.36%97.12% Week 26 98.21% 90.60% Week 27 96.43% 95.49% Week 28 92.86% 96.27%Week 29 98.21% 95.18% Week 30 94.64% 97.12% Week 31 91.07% 95.92% Week32 92.85% 96.12% Week 33 9.42% 93.89% Week 34 92.85% 94.08% Week 3594.64% 93.30% Week 36 96.43% 96.04%

Example 5 Average Egg Production—Lighting Option Five

Table 6 shows a comparison of the average egg production rate to thetotal number of birds of the system and method of the currentapplication using lighting Option 5, when compared with average eggproduction rate to the total number of birds in a conventionalproduction facility using conventional commercial lighting.

As shown in Table 6 and illustrated in FIG. 24, the comparison beganwith birds (chickens) 18 weeks old. Birds grown under the lighting ofthe system of the current application showed egg production beginning inweek 18, with 37.50% of birds producing eggs in week 20, 66.07% in week21 and finally reaching 100% production, or all birds producing eggs inweek 24. Conversely, the commercial comparison lighting systems beganproducing eggs in week 20, 3.78%, with 25.44% production in week 21,with 96.27% in week 26. As shown in Table 6, an increased percentage ofbirds grown under the lighting of the current application produced eggsfrom weeks 18 to 36 when compared to birds grown or living under acommercial lighting system.

TABLE 6 Average egg production per day Lighting Option 5 Percentage ofeggs production to total number of birds using the technology of theCommercial Comparison present disclosure Avg./Day Week 18 1.79% 0.00%Week 19 8.93% 0.00% Week 20 37.50% 3.78% Week 21 66.07% 25.44% Week 2291.07% 62.17% Week 23 96.43% 76.82% Week 24 100.00% 81.76% Week 2598.21% 97.12% Week 26 92.86% 90.60% Week 27 96.43% 95.49% Week 28 98.21%96.27% Week 29 100.00% 95.18% Week 30 96.43% 97.12% Week 31 100.00%95.92% Week 32 92.86% 96.12% Week 33 96.43% 93.89% Week 34 91.07% 94.08%Week 35 98.21% 93.30% Week 36 94.64% 96.04%

Example 6 Average Egg Production—Lighting Option Six

Table 7 shows a comparison of the average egg production rate to thetotal number of birds of the system and method of the currentapplication using lighting Option 6, when compared with average eggproduction rate to the total number of birds in a conventionalproduction facility using conventional commercial lighting.

As shown in Table 7 and illustrated in FIG. 25, the comparison beganwith birds (chickens) 18 weeks old. Birds grown under the lighting ofthe system of the current application showed egg production beginning inweek 19, with 44.64% of birds producing eggs in week 20, 66.07% in week21 and finally reaching 105.36% production, or all birds producing eggsin week 23. Conversely, the commercial comparison lighting systems beganproducing eggs in week 20, 3.78%, with 25.44% production in week 21,with 96.27% in week 26. As shown in Table 7, an increased percentage ofbirds grown under the lighting of the current application produced eggsfrom weeks 18 to 36 when compared to birds grown or living under acommercial lighting system.

TABLE 7 Average egg production per day Lighting Option 6 Percentage ofeggs production to total number of birds using the technology of theCommercial Comparison present disclosure Avg./Day Week 18 0.00% 0.00%Week 19 10.71% 0.00% Week 20 44.64% 3.78% Week 21 66.07% 25.44% Week 2294.64% 62.17% Week 23 105.36% 76.82% Week 24 94.64% 81.76% Week 2587.50% 97.12% Week 26 105.36% 90.60% Week 27 96.43% 95.49% Week 2894.64% 96.27% Week 29 96.43% 95.18% Week 30 96.43% 97.12% Week 31 96.43%95.92% Week 32 96.43% 96.12% Week 33 0.00% 93.89% Week 34 10.71% 94.08%Week 35 44.64% 93.30% Week 36 66.07% 96.04%

Example 7 Average Egg Production—Comparison with Standard Lighting andTime

Example 7 provides a comparison study of average egg production rate.The study was conducted in Greeley, Colo. in the summer of 2016 usingthree lighting systems, Lighting Option 4 (shown in Table 1) of thelighting method of the current disclosure but on a standard commercialday/night cycle (15 hours ON at week 17 with a 15 minute increase eachweek), a control with standard fluorescent lighting on a standardcommercial day/night cycle, and Lighting Option 4 using the lightingmethod of the current disclosure.

Eggs were produced in compliance with the United Egg Producers AnimalHusbandry Guidelines using various strains of white leghorn varietiesraised from pullets. Birds were housed in cages in blackout grow tents,with one bird per cage, and eight birds per tent. Birds were fed anall-natural, 100% vegetarian diet comprised predominantly of corn,soybean meal, limestone, vitamins and minerals, matching the diets,feeding and watering times for the commercial comparison birds.

As shown in Table 8 below (and in FIG. 26), birds in the comparisonproduced a small amount of eggs (5.36%) starting in week 17 with thecontrol, however birds grown under Lighting Option 4 (24 hour (column4)) quickly surpassed by week 19 standard production levels both for thecontrol (column 3) and the average (column 5, see Management Guide, W-36Commercial Layers, published by Hy-Line International, January 2016). Byweek 22, both the birds grown under Lighting Option 4 on a 24 hour cycleand birds grown under Lighting Option 4 on a commercial standardday/night timing showed an increase in production over the control andthe commercial average, with birds grown under Lighting Option 4 on a 24hour cycle producing at 98.21%, birds grown under Lighting Option 4 on acommercial standard day/night timing producing at 91.07% s, while birdsgrown under the control producing at 78.57% and the commercial averageat 85.00%.

TABLE 8 Average Egg Production Comparison Study with Commercial ControlLighting Option 4 Lighting with commercial option 4 on a Commercialstandard timing Control 24 hour cycle Average Week 17  5.36% Week 1817.86%  1.79%  2.50% Week 19 26.79%  51.79% 18.50% Week 20 17.86% 44.64% 60.71% 42.50% Week 21 76.79% 62.50% 105.36% 68.50% Week 22 91.07%78.57%  98.21% 85.00%

Increased Average Egg Weight

Six poultry egg weight studies were conducted in Greeley, Colo. in thewinter and spring of 2016 using the lighting system and method of thecurrent disclosure and compared standard commercial chicken egg weightsfor white leghorn varieties raised under standard commercially availablelights (see Hy-Line International, January 2016).

Birds raised under the lighting of the system and methods of the currentdisclosure were raised in compliance with the United Egg ProducersAnimal Husbandry Guidelines using various strains of white leghornvarieties raised from pullets. Birds were housed in cages in blackoutgrow tents, with one bird per cage, and eight birds per tent. Birds werefed an all-natural, 100% vegetarian diet comprised predominantly ofcorn, soybean meal, limestone, vitamins and minerals, matching thediets, feeding and watering times for the commercial comparison birds.Egg weights were captured using a digital scale and measured on a dailybasis at 9 am.

Example 8 Average Egg Weight—Lighting Option One

Table 9 shows a comparison of the average bird weight of the system andmethod of the current application using lighting Option One (Table 1)when compared with the commercial average bird weight.

As shown in Table 9 and illustrated in FIG. 27, the average egg weightcomparison began with birds (chickens) 18 weeks old birds raised underthe lighting of the system of the current application showed eggproduction beginning in week 19, with an average weight of 1.495 oz., at20 weeks, average egg weight was 1.803 oz., with average egg weightreaching 2.00 oz. at week 25, increasing to 2.10 oz. in week 29, 2.17oz. in week 35. Conversely, the average egg weight of eggs producedunder the commercial comparison lighting system showed at average eggweight of 1.65 oz. in week 21, 1.90 oz. in week 24, 1.99 in week 25 andmaxing out at 2.13 in week 35. As shown in Table 8, eggs produced underlighting of the technology of current application produced eggs fromweeks 18 to 36 with an average increased egg weight of 0.07 whencompared to birds grown or living under a commercial lighting system.

TABLE 9 Average egg weight in ounces (oz.) Lighting Option 1 Average eggweight using the technology Commercial Difference of the presentComparison between disclosure Avg. weight systems Week 18 0.00 0.00 Week19 1.495 0.00 Week 20 1.803387097 0.00 Week 21 1.882093023 1.6533333330.23 Week 22 1.864893617 1.795555556 0.07 Week 23 1.8356122451.866666667 −0.03 Week 24 1.994117647 1.902222222 0.09 Week 252.001196429 1.991111111 0.01 Week 26 2.032075472 1.973333333 0.06 Week27 2.081696429 2.008888889 0.08 Week 28 2.066727273 1.991111111 0.07Week 29 2.106071429 2.008888889 0.10 Week 30 2.004351852 2.026666667−0.02 Week 31 2.099636364 2.026666667 0.07 Week 32 2.1074 2.0444444440.06 Week 33 2.119181818 2.044444444 0.07 Week 34 2.1507407412.044444444 0.11 Week 35 2.17 2.133333333 0.04 Week 36 2.1696363642.044444444 0.12 Average difference 0.07 oz.

Example 9 Average Egg Weight—Lighting Option Two

Table 10 shows a comparison of the average egg weight of the system andmethod of the current application using lighting Option Two (Table 1)when compared with average egg weight in a conventional productionfacility using conventional commercial lighting.

As shown in Table 10 and illustrated in FIG. 28, the average egg weightcomparison began with birds (chickens) 18 weeks old. Birds raised underthe lighting of the system of the current application showed eggproduction beginning in week 19, with an average weight of 1.52 oz., at20 weeks, average egg weight was 1.65 oz., with average egg weightreaching 1.86 oz. at week 25, increasing to 1.95 oz. in week 29, and2.03 oz. in week 35. Conversely, the average egg weight of eggs producedunder the commercial comparison lighting system showed at average eggweight of 1.65 oz. in week 21, 1.90 oz. in week 24, 1.99 in week 25 andmaxing out at 2.13 in week 35.

TABLE 10 Average egg weight in ounces (oz.) Lighting Option 2 Averageegg weight Commercial with current application Comparison system Avg.weight Week 18 0.00 Week 19 1.515 0.00 Week 20 1.652916667 0.00 Week 211.78125 1.653333333 Week 22 1.828173077 1.795555556 Week 23 1.8499074071.866666667 Week 24 1.866574074 1.902222222 Week 25 1.8619807691.991111111 Week 26 1.916909091 1.973333333 Week 27 1.9265740742.008888889 Week 28 1.9305 1.991111111 Week 29 1.955784314 2.008888889Week 30 2.004351852 2.026666667 Week 31 2.012909091 2.026666667 Week 321.977980769 2.044444444 Week 33 2.062980769 2.044444444 Week 342.061326531 2.044444444 Week 35 2.0282 2.133333333 Week 36 2.0169230772.044444444

Example 10 Average Egg Weight—Lighting Option Three

Table 11 shows a comparison of the average egg weight of the system andmethod of the current application using lighting Option Three (Table 1)when compared with average egg weight in a conventional productionfacility using conventional commercial lighting.

As shown in Table 11 and illustrated in FIG. 29, the average egg weightcomparison began with birds (chickens) 18 weeks old. Birds raised underthe lighting of the system of the current application showed eggproduction beginning in week 19, with an average weight of 1.54 oz., at20 weeks the average egg weight was 1.70 oz., with average egg weightreaching 2.00 oz. at week 28, increasing to 2.04 oz. in week 32, and2.11 oz. in week 35. Conversely, the average egg weight of eggs producedunder the commercial comparison lighting system showed at average eggweight of 1.65 oz. in week 21, 1.90 oz. in week 24, 1.99 in week 25 andmaxing out at 2.13 in week 35.

TABLE 11 Average egg weight in ounces (oz.) Lighting Option 3 Averageegg weight Commercial with current Comparison application system Avg.weight Week 18 0.00 Week 19 1.42 0.00 Week 20 1.5445 0.00 Week 211.695556 1.653333333 Week 22 1.774063 1.795555556 Week 23 1.8340911.866666667 Week 24 1.878125 1.902222222 Week 25 1.901545 1.991111111Week 26 1.938173 1.973333333 Week 27 1.960741 2.008888889 Week 282.000545 1.991111111 Week 29 2.011415 2.008888889 Week 30 2.0033962.026666667 Week 31 2.036161 2.026666667 Week 32 2.046132 2.044444444Week 33 1.993491 2.044444444 Week 34 2.011038 2.044444444 Week 352.113235 2.133333333 Week 36 2.058627 2.044444444

Example 11 Average Egg Weight—Lighting Option Four

Table 12 shows a comparison of the average egg weight of the system andmethod of the current application using lighting Option Four (Table 1)when compared with average egg weight in a conventional productionfacility using conventional commercial lighting.

As shown in Table 12 and illustrated in FIG. 30, the average egg weightcomparison began with birds (chickens) 18 weeks old. Birds raised underthe lighting of the system of the current application showed eggproduction beginning in week 19, with an average weight of 1.61 oz., at20 weeks the average egg weight was 1.61 oz., with average egg weightreaching 2.02 oz. at week 32, and increasing to 2.06 oz. in week 34.Conversely, the average egg weight of eggs produced under the commercialcomparison lighting system showed at average egg weight of 1.65 oz. inweek 21, 1.90 oz. in week 24, 1.99 in week 25 and maxing out at 2.13 inweek 35.

TABLE 12 Average egg weight in ounces (oz.) Lighting Option 4 Averageegg weight Commercial with current Comparison application system Avg.weight Week 18 0.00 Week 19 1.515 0.00 Week 20 1.609643 0.00 Week 211.684375 1.653333333 Week 22 1.756034 1.795555556 Week 23 1.7972731.866666667 Week 24 1.844906 1.902222222 Week 25 1.833667 1.991111111Week 26 1.884364 1.973333333 Week 27 1.888611 2.008888889 Week 281.895115 1.991111111 Week 29 1.926273 2.008888889 Week 30 1.9714342.026666667 Week 31 1.985392 2.026666667 Week 32 2.020192 2.044444444Week 33 2.03 2.044444444 Week 34 2.055096 2.044444444 Week 35 1.982832.133333333 Week 36 2.024278 2.044444444

Example 12 Average Egg Weight—Lighting Option Five

Table 13 shows a comparison of the average egg weight of the system andmethod of the current application using lighting Option Five (Table 1)when compared with average egg weight in a conventional productionfacility using conventional commercial lighting.

As shown in Table 13 and illustrated in FIG. 31, the average egg weightcomparison began with birds (chickens) 18 weeks old. Birds raised underthe lighting of the system of the current application showed eggproduction beginning in week 19, with an average weight of 1.594 oz., at20 weeks, average egg weight was 1.692 oz., with average egg weightreaching 2.00 oz. at week 29, and increasing to 2.08 oz. in week 33.Conversely, the average egg weight of eggs produced under the commercialcomparison lighting system showed at average egg weight of 1.65 oz. inweek 21, 1.90 oz. in week 24, 1.99 in week 25 and maxing out at 2.13 inweek 35. As shown in Table 8, eggs produced under lighting of thetechnology of current application produced eggs from weeks 18 to 36 withan average increased egg weight of 0.07 when compared to birds grown orliving under a commercial lighting system.

TABLE 13 Average egg weight in ounces (oz.) Lighting Option 5 Averageegg weight Commercial with current Comparison application system Avg.weight Week 18 0.00 0.00 Week 19 1.594 0.00 Week 20 1.692619048 0.00Week 21 1.806857143 1.653333333 Week 22 1.859791667 1.795555556 Week 231.876759259 1.866666667 Week 24 1.912857143 1.902222222 Week 251.918545455 1.991111111 Week 26 1.925784314 1.973333333 Week 271.961944444 2.008888889 Week 28 1.992181818 1.991111111 Week 292.009732143 2.008888889 Week 30 2.044722222 2.026666667 Week 312.040982143 2.026666667 Week 32 2.041673077 2.044444444 Week 332.080092593 2.044444444 Week 34 2.028823529 2.044444444 Week 352.081090909 2.133333333 Week 36 2.052075472 2.044444444

Example 13 Average Egg Weight—Lighting Option Six

Table 13 shows a comparison of the average egg weight of the system andmethod of the current application using lighting Option Six (Table 1)when compared with average egg weight in a conventional productionfacility using conventional commercial lighting.

As shown in Table 14 and illustrated in FIG. 32, the average egg weightcomparison began with birds (chickens) 18 weeks old. Birds raised underthe lighting of the system of the current application showed eggproduction beginning in week 19, with an average weight of 1.634 oz., at20 weeks, average egg weight was 1.728 oz., with average egg weightreaching 2.00 oz. at week 25, increasing to 2.10 oz. in week 33 andcontinuing to increase to 2.17 oz. by week 36. Conversely, the averageegg weight of eggs produced under the commercial comparison lightingsystem showed at average egg weight of 1.65 oz. in week 21, 1.90 oz. inweek 24, 1.99 in week 25 and maxing out at 2.13 in week 35. As shown inTable 8, eggs produced under lighting of the technology of currentapplication produced eggs from weeks 18 to 36 with an average increasedegg weight of 0.07 when compared to birds grown or living under acommercial lighting system.

TABLE 14 Average egg weight in ounces (oz.) Lighting Option 6 Averageegg weight Commercial with current Comparison application system Avg.weight Week 18 0 0.00 Week 19 1.634 0.00 Week 20 1.7282 0.00 Week 211.821857143 1.653333333 Week 22 1.865098039 1.795555556 Week 231.934224138 1.866666667 Week 24 1.958113208 1.902222222 Week 252.001734694 1.991111111 Week 26 2.011440678 1.973333333 Week 272.024074074 2.008888889 Week 28 2.046415094 1.991111111 Week 292.056574074 2.008888889 Week 30 2.108888889 2.026666667 Week 31 2.092.026666667 Week 32 2.10 2.044444444 Week 33 2.12 2.044444444 Week 342.16 2.044444444 Week 35 2.13 2.133333333 Week 36 2.17 2.044444444

Example 14 Average Egg Weight—Comparison with Standard Lighting and Time

Example 14 provides a comparison study of average egg weight. The studywas conducted in Greeley, Colo. in the summer of 2016 using threelighting system, the Lighting Option 4 (shown in Table 1) of thelighting method of the current disclosure but on a standard commercialday/night cycle (15 hours ON at week 17 with a 15 minute increase eachweek), a control with standard fluorescent lighting on a standardcommercial day/night cycle, and Lighting Option 4 using the lightingmethod of the current disclosure.

Eggs were produced in compliance with the United Egg Producers AnimalHusbandry Guidelines using various strains of white leghorn varietiesraised from pullets. Birds were housed in cages in blackout grow tents,with one bird per cage, and eight birds per tent. Birds were fed anall-natural, 100% vegetarian diet comprised predominantly of corn,soybean meal, limestone, vitamins and minerals, matching the diets,feeding and watering times for the commercial comparison birds.

As shown in Table 15 below (and in FIG. 33), birds in the comparisonproduced small eggs (1.12 oz) (categorized as “PeeWee” by the USDAsizing, see United States Standards, Grades, and Weight Classes forShell Eggs, AMS 56, Jul. 20, 2000) starting in week 17 with the control,however “PeeWee” eggs are not commercially viable. However, birds grownunder Lighting Option 4 (24 hour (column 4)) quickly reached acommercially viable size of “Medium” at 1.82 oz per egg by week 21 andincreased in weight to 1.87 oz per egg week 22. Lighting option 4 usingstandard commercial day/night timing, also reach a “Medium” weight of1.76 oz per egg by week 22. The Control group reach a weight of 1.75 ozper by week 22 with the commercial average, shown in column 5 showingaverage commercial egg weights reaching a “Medium” by week 21.

TABLE 15 Average Egg Weight (oz) Comparison Study with CommercialControl Lighting Option 4 Lighting with commercial option 4 on aCommercial standard timing Control 24 hour cycle Average Week 17 1.12Week 18 1.52 1.51 1.57 Week 19 1.47 1.65 1.61 Week 20 1.47 1.57 1.691.65 Week 21 1.63 1.70 1.82 1.75 Week 22 1.76 1.75 1.87 1.84

Increased Average Bird Weight

Six chicken weight gain over time studies were conducted in Greeley,Colo. in the winter and spring of 2016 using the lighting system andmethod of the current disclosure and compared standard commercialchicken weights for white leghorn varieties over the same period whenraised under standard commercially available lights (see Hy-LineInternational, January 2016).

Birds raised under the lighting of the system and methods of the currentdisclosure were raised in compliance with the United Egg ProducersAnimal Husbandry Guidelines using various strains of white leghornvarieties raised from pullets. Birds were housed in cages in blackoutgrow tents, with one bird per cage, and eight birds per tent. Birds werefed an all-natural, 100% vegetarian diet comprised predominantly ofcorn, soybean meal, limestone, vitamins and minerals, matching thediets, feeding and watering times for the commercial comparison birds.Bird weights were captured using a common hanging scale and measured ona weekly basis, Tuesday mornings at 9 am.

Example 15 Average Bird Weight—Lighting Option One

Table 16 shows a comparison of the average bird (chicken) weight from 20weeks to 31 weeks for birds housed and grown under the system and methodof the current application using lighting Option One (shown in Table 1)when compared with the average bird weight (chicken) to the total numberof birds in a conventional production facility using conventionalcommercial lighting.

Various strains of white leghorn varieties raised from pullets were usedfor the system of the current application. Birds were fed all natural,100% vegetarian diet comprised predominantly of corn, soybean meal,limestone, vitamins and minerals, matching the diets, feeding andwatering times with standard commercial practice. No hormones orstimulants were used.

As shown in Table 16 and illustrated in FIG. 34, the comparison beganwith 20 week old birds raised under the lighting of the system of thecurrent application which showed an average weight 1440 g beginning inweek 20, whereas the breed standard weight at 20 weeks is 1380 g. At 22weeks, the average bird weight of the system of the present applicationwas 1505 g, where the breed standard weight is 1460 g. At 25 weeks, theaverage bird weight of a bird raised under the system of the presentapplication was 1520 g, compared to 1490 g for the breed standardweight. At 31 weeks, the average bird weight of a bird raised under thesystem of the present application was 1537.5 g, compared to 1520 g forthe breed standard weight. Please note that a power failure at the birdhousing facility at week 26 prevented a measure of birds for the weekand caused a loss of weight in week 27 due to stress. As shown in Table14, an, increase in average bird weight of 12 g per week was shown inbirds raised under the lighting of the current application when comparedto birds grown or living under a commercial lighting system.

TABLE 16 Average bird weight in grams (g) Lighting Option 1 Bird Avg.Weight Difference in (g) using system of Breed bird weight the presentStandard between Age application Weight (g) systems 20 Weeks 1440 138060 g 21 Weeks 1465 1430 35 g 22 Weeks 1505 1460 45 g 23 Weeks 1505 147035 g 24 Weeks 1510 1480 30 g 25 Weeks 1520 1490 30 g 26 weeks No datadue to power outage 27 Weeks 1465 1510 −45 g 28 Weeks 1532.5 1510 22.5 g29 Weeks 1507.5 1520 −13.5 g 30 Weeks 1527.5 1520 7.5 g 31 Weeks 1537.51520 17.5 g Average weight difference over time 12 g

Example 16 Average Bird Weight—Lighting Option Two

Table 17 shows a comparison of the average bird (chicken) weight from 20weeks to 31 weeks for birds housed and raised under the system andmethod of the current application using lighting option two (shown inTable 1) when compared with the average bird weight (chicken) to thetotal number of birds in a conventional production facility usingconventional commercial lighting.

Various strains of white leghorn varieties raised from pullets were usedfor the system of the current application. Birds were fed all natural,100% vegetarian diet comprised predominantly of corn, soybean meal,limestone, vitamins and minerals, matching the diets, feeding andwatering times with standard commercial practice. No hormones orstimulants were used.

As shown in Table 17 and illustrated in FIG. 35, the comparison beganwith 20 week old birds raised under the lighting of the system of thecurrent application which showed an average weight 1407.5 g beginning inweek 20, whereas the breed standard weight at 20 weeks is 1380 g. At 22weeks, the average bird weight of the system of the present applicationwas 1440 g, where the breed standard weight is 1460 g. At 25 weeks, theaverage bird weight of a bird raised under the system of the presentapplication was 1460 g, compared to 1490 g for the breed standardweight. At 31 weeks, the average bird weight of a bird raised under thesystem of the present application was 1515.0 g, compared to 1520 g forthe breed standard weight. Please note that a power failure at the birdhousing facility at week 26 prevented a measure of bird week for theweek and caused a loss of weight in week 27 due to stress.

TABLE 17 Average bird weight in grams (g) Lighting Option 2 Bird Avg.Weight (g) using system of Breed the present Standard Age applicationWeight (g) 20 Weeks 1407.5 1380 21 Weeks 1420 1430 22 Weeks 1440 1460 23Weeks 1435 1470 24 Weeks 1455 1480 25 Weeks 1460 1490 26 Weeks No datadue to power outage 27 Weeks 1433.75 1510 28 Weeks 1487.5 1510 29 Weeks1452.5 1520 30 Weeks 1477.5 1520 31 Weeks 1515 1520

Example 17 Average Bird Weight—Lighting Option Three

Table 18 shows a comparison of the average bird (chicken) weight from 20weeks to 31 weeks for birds housed and raised under the system andmethod of the current application using lighting Option Three (shown inTable 1) when compared with the average bird weight (chicken) to thetotal number of birds in a conventional production facility usingconventional commercial lighting.

Various strains of white leghorn varieties raised from pullets were usedfor the system of the current application. Birds were fed all natural,100% vegetarian diet comprised predominantly of corn, soybean meal,limestone, vitamins and minerals, matching the diets, feeding andwatering times with standard commercial practice. No hormones orstimulants were used.

As shown in Table 18 and illustrated in FIG. 36, the comparison beganwith 20 week old birds raised under the lighting of the system of thecurrent application which showed an average weight 1445 g beginning inweek 20, whereas the breed standard weight at 20 weeks is 1380 g. At 22weeks the average bird weight of the system of the present applicationwas 1470 g, where the breed stand weight is 1460 g. At 25 weeks theaverage bird weight of a bird raised under the system of the presentapplication was 1470 g, compared to 1490 g for the breed standardweight. At 31 weeks the average bird weight of a bird raised under thesystem of the present application was 1520 g, compared to 1520 g for thebreed standard weight. Please note that a power failure at the birdhousing facility at week 26 prevented a measure of birds for the weekand caused a loss of weight in week 27 due to stress. As shown in Table16, an increase in average bird weight of 3.2 g per week was shown inbirds raised under the lighting of the current application when comparedto birds grown or living under a commercial lighting system.

TABLE 18 Average bird weight in grams (g) Lighting Option 3 Bird Avg.Weight Difference in (g) using system of Breed bird weight the presentStandard between Age application Weight (g) systems 20 Weeks 1445 138065 21 Weeks 1495 1430 65 22 Weeks 1470 1460 10 23 Weeks 1465 1470 −5 24Weeks 1460 1480 −20 25 Weeks 1470 1490 −20 26 Weeks No data due to poweroutage 0 27 Weeks 1462.5 1510 −47.5 28 Weeks 1540 1510 30 29 Weeks1507.5 1520 −12.5 30 Weeks 1490 1520 −30 31 Weeks 1520 1520 0 Averageweight difference over time 3.2

Example 18 Average Bird Weight—Lighting Option Four

Table 19 shows a comparison of the average bird (chicken) weight from 20weeks to 31 weeks for birds housed and raised under the system andmethod of the current application using lighting Option Four (shown inTable 1) when compared with the average bird weight (chicken) to thetotal number of birds in a conventional production facility usingconventional commercial lighting.

Various strains of white leghorn varieties raised from pullets were usedfor the system of the current application. Birds were fed all natural,100% vegetarian diet comprised predominantly of corn, soybean meal,limestone, vitamins and minerals, matching the diets, feeding andwatering times with standard commercial practice. No hormones orstimulants were used.

As shown in Table 19 and illustrated in FIG. 37, the comparison beganwith 20 week old birds raised under the lighting of the system of thecurrent application which showed an average weight 1445 g beginning inweek 20, whereas the breed standard weight at 20 weeks is 1380 g. At 22weeks, the average bird weight of the system of the present applicationwas 1470 g, where the breed standard weight is 1460 g. At 25 weeks, theaverage bird weight of bird raised under the system of the presentapplication was 1470 g, compared to 1490 g for the breed standardweight. At 31 weeks, the average bird weight of a bird raised under thesystem of the present application was 1520 g, compared to 1520 g for thebreed standard weight. Please note that a power failure at the birdhousing facility at week 26 prevented a measure of birds for the weekand caused a loss of weight in week 27 due to stress. As shown in Table17, an increase in average bird weight of 66.1 g per week was shown inbirds raised under the lighting of the current application when comparedto birds grown or living under a commercial lighting system.

TABLE 19 Average bird weight in grams (g) Lighting Option 4 Bird Avg.Weight Difference in (g) using system Breed bird weight of the presentStandard between Age application Weight (g) systems 20 Weeks 1390 138010 g 21 Weeks 1460 1430 30 g 22 Weeks 1545 1460 85 g 23 Weeks 1555 147085 g 24 Weeks 1565 1480 85 g 25 Weeks 1580 1490 90 g 26 Weeks No datadue to power outage 27 Weeks 1545 1510 35 g 28 Weeks 1602.5 1510 92.5 g29 Weeks 1570 1520 50 g 30 Weeks 1585 1520 65 g 31 Weeks 1620 1520 100 gAverage weight difference over time 66.1 g

Example 19 Average Bird Weight—Lighting Option Five

Table 20 shows a comparison of the average bird (chicken) weight from 20weeks to 31 weeks for birds housed and raised under the system andmethod of the current application using lighting Option Five (shown inTable 1) when compared with the average bird weight (chicken) to thetotal number of birds in a conventional production facility usingconventional commercial lighting.

Various strains of white leghorn varieties raised from pullets were usedfor the system of the current application. Birds were fed all natural,100% vegetarian diet comprised predominantly of corn, soybean meal,limestone, vitamins and minerals, matching the diets, feeding andwatering times with standard commercial practice. No hormones orstimulants were used.

As shown in Table 20 and illustrated in FIG. 38, the comparison beganwith 20 week old birds raised under the lighting of the system of thecurrent application showed an average weight 1475 g beginning in week20, whereas the breed standard weight at 20 weeks is 1380 g. At 22weeks, the average bird weight of the system of the present applicationwas 1485 g, where the breed standard weight is 1460 g. At 25 weeks, theaverage bird weight of a bird raised under the system of the presentapplication was 1505 g, compared to 1490 g for the breed standardweight. At 31 weeks, the average bird weight of bird raised under thesystem of the present application was 1547.5 g, compared to 1520 g forthe breed standard weight. Please note that a power failure at the birdhousing facility at week 26 prevented a measure of birds for the weekand caused a loss of weight in week 27 due to stress. As shown in Table18, an increase in average bird weight 21.5 g per week was shown inbirds raised under the lighting of the current application when comparedto birds grown or living under a commercial lighting system.

TABLE 20 Average bird weight in grams (g) Lighting Option 5 Bird Avg.Weight (g) Breed Difference in using system of the Standard bird weightAge present application Weight (g) between systems 20 Weeks 1475 1380 95g 21 Weeks 1495 1430 65 g 22 Weeks 1485 1460 25 g 23 Weeks 1495 1470 25g 24 Weeks 1495 1480 15 g 25 Weeks 1505 1490 15 g 26 Weeks No data dueto power outage 27 Weeks 1481.25 1510 −28.75 g 28 Weeks 1522.5 1510 12.5g 29 Weeks 1510 1520 −10 g 30 Weeks 1515 1520 −5 g 31 Weeks 1547.5 152027.5 g Average weight difference over time 21.5 g

Example 20 Average Bird Weight—Lighting Option Six

Table 21 shows a comparison of the average bird (chicken) weight from 20weeks to 31 weeks for birds housed and raised under the system andmethod of the current application using lighting Option Six (shown inTable 1) when compared with the average bird weight (chicken) to thetotal number of birds in a conventional production facility usingconventional commercial lighting.

Various strains of white leghorn varieties raised from pullets were usedfor the system of the current application. Birds were fed all natural,100% vegetarian diet comprised predominantly of corn, soybean meal,limestone, vitamins and minerals, matching the diets, feeding andwatering times with standard commercial practice. No hormones orstimulants were used.

As shown in Table 21 and illustrated in FIG. 39, the comparison beganwith 20 week old birds raised under the lighting of the system of thecurrent application which showed an average weight 1435 g beginning inweek 20, whereas the breed standard weight at 20 weeks is 1380 g. At 22weeks, the average bird weight of the system of the present applicationwas 1460 g, where the breed stand weight is 1460 g. At 25 weeks, theaverage bird weight of bird raised under the system of the presentapplication was 1475 g, compared to 1490 g for the breed standardweight. At 31 weeks, the average bird weight of bird raised under thesystem of the present application was 1587.5 g, compared to 1520 g forthe breed standard weight. Please note that a power failure at the birdhousing facility at week 26 prevented a measure of bird week for theweek and caused a loss of weight in week 27 due to stress. As shown inTable 19, an average increase average bird weight 13.16 g per week wasshown in birds grown under the lighting of the current application whencompared to birds grown or living under a commercial lighting system.

TABLE 21 Average bird weight in grams (g) Lighting Option 6 Bird Avg.Weight Difference in (g) using system Breed bird weight of the presentStandard between Age application Weight (g) systems 20 Weeks 1435 138055 g 21 Weeks 1455 1430 25 g 22 Weeks 1460 1460 0 23 Weeks 1490 1470 20g 24 Weeks 1470 1480 −10 g 25 Weeks 1475 1490 −15 g 26 Weeks No data dueto power outage 27 Weeks 1482.5 1510 −27.75 g 28 Weeks 1527.5 1510 17.5g 29 Weeks 1522.5 1520 2.5 g 30 Weeks 1530 1520 10 g 31 Weeks 1587.51520 67.5 g Average weight difference over time 13.16 g

Example 21 Average Bird Weight—Comparison with Standard Lighting andTime

Example 21 provides a comparison study of average bird weight in grams.The study was conducted in Greeley, Colo. in the summer of 2016 usingthree lighting systems: Lighting Option 4 (shown in Table 1) of thelighting method of the current disclosure but on a standard commercialday/night cycle (15 hours ON at week 17 with a 15 minute increase eachweek), a control with standard fluorescent lighting on a standardcommercial day/night cycle, and Lighting Option 4 and Option 5 using thelighting method of the current disclosure.

Birds produced under the system of the present application describedherein were produced in compliance with the United Egg Producers AnimalHusbandry Guidelines using various strains of white leghorn varietiesraised from pullets. Birds were housed in cages in blackout grow tents,with one bird per cage, and eight birds per tent. Birds were fed anall-natural, 100% vegetarian diet comprised predominantly of corn,soybean meal, limestone, vitamins and minerals, matching the diets,feeding and watering times for the commercial comparison birds.

Birds raised under Lighting Option 4 on a 24 hour cycle were raisedunder Lighting Option 4 from weeks 13 to 16 and then switched toLighting Option 5.

Birds raised under Lighting Option 4 on a standard commercial day/nightcycle our cycle were raised under Lighting Option 5 from weeks 13 to 16and then switched to Lighting Option 6.

As shown in Table 23 below (and in FIG. 40) birds in the comparisongrown under Lighting Option 4 on a 24 hour cycle consistently weighedmore than birds raised under the control lighting once the lighting waschanged to Option 5 at week 16. This was also true for birds raisedunder Lighting Option 4 on a standard day/night cycle once theirlighting was changed to Option 6 at week 16.

TABLE 22 Average Bird Weight (g) Comparison Study with CommercialControl Lighting Option 4 Lighting option with commercial 4 on astandard timing Control 24 hour cycle Week 17 922.5 945 987.5 Week 18950 1012.5 1017.5 Week 19 1020 1057.5 1037.5 Week 20 1045 1047.5 1060Week 21 1082.5 1080 1122.5 Week 22 1132.5 1107.5 1165

Example 22 Early Sexual Maturity in Female Birds

Visual studies of birds grown under the system of the present disclosure(such as lighting option 4) has shown earlier sexual maturity in birdswhen compared to the time of sexual maturity for birds grown understandard commercial lighting. Visual observations have shown that thecombs, located on the top of the female birds, reach a larger size andwith more symmetry, on birds that are grown under lights of the presentdisclosure.

The foregoing description of the invention has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, andother modifications and variations may be possible in light of the aboveteachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to bestexplain the principles of the invention and its practical application tothereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the inventionin various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated. It is intended that the appended claims beconstrued to include other alternative embodiments of the inventionexcept insofar as limited by the prior art.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for inducing a desired response ina bird, wherein said method comprises: providing at least one photonemitter; providing at least one photon emission modulation controller incommunication with said at least one photon emitter; communicating acommand from said at least one photon emission modulation controller tosaid at least one photon emitter; providing a photon signal to saidbird, wherein said photon signal comprises two or more independentcomponents, wherein said two or more independent components comprise: afirst independent component comprising a repetitive first modulatedphoton pulse group, wherein said first modulated photon pulse group hasone or more photon pulse ON durations between 0.01 microseconds and 5000milliseconds with one or more intensities, has one or more photon pulseOFF durations between 0.1 microseconds and 24 hours, and a wavelengthcolor; and a second independent component comprising a repetitive secondmodulated photon pulse group, wherein said second modulated photon pulsegroup has one or more photon pulse ON durations between 0.01microseconds and 5000 milliseconds with one or more intensities, has oneor more second photon pulse OFF durations between is between 0.1microseconds and 24 hours, and a wavelength color; wherein the firstindependent component and the second independent component are producedwithin said signal simultaneously; wherein the second modulated photonpulse group is different from the first modulated photon pulse group;and emitting said signal toward said bird from said at least one photonemitter, wherein the combined effect of first modulated photon pulsegroup and the second modulated photon pulse group of the signal producesa desired response from said bird; and wherein said desired responsefrom said bird is chosen from ovulation, fertility, egg production orlaying, hunger, growth, reduction of stress or calming, improving eggquality, socialization, bird growth, bird development, sexual maturity,improving reproductive quality, facilitation of nutrient uptake,photochemical responses, and regulation of circadian rhythm.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: a third or more independentcomponent comprising a repetitive third or more modulated photon pulsegroup, wherein said third or more modulated photon pulse group has oneor more photon pulse ON durations between 0.01 microseconds and 5000milliseconds with one or more intensities, has one or more photon pulseOFF durations between 0.1 microseconds and 24 hours, and a wavelengthcolor; wherein the third or more independent component, the firstindependent component and the second independent component are producedwithin said signal simultaneously; wherein the repetitive third or moremodulated photon pulse group is different from the second modulatedphoton pulse group and the first modulated photon pulse group; andemitting said signal toward said bird from said at least one photonemitter, wherein the combined effect of the repetitive third or moremodulated photon pulse group, the first modulated photon pulse group andthe second modulated photon pulse group of the signal produces a desiredresponse from said bird.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein each of theone or more photon pulse OFF durations of the third or more modulatedphoton pulse group is different.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein eachof the one or more photon pulse ON durations of the third or moremodulated photon pulse group is different.
 5. The method of claim 2,further comprising: providing a master logic controller in communicationwith said at least one photon emission modulation controller, whereinsaid master logic controller sends commands to said at least one photonemission modulation controller controlling the modulated pulse groups ofsaid third or more independent component.
 6. The method of claim 2,wherein said components of said third or more modulated photon pulsegroup are specifically tuned to a desired response from said bird. 7.The method of claim 2, wherein said wavelength color of said third ormore modulated photon pulse group is chosen from the group consisting ofnear red, far-red, blue, infra-red, yellow, orange, green andultra-violet.
 8. The method of claim 2, wherein said wavelength color ofsaid third or more modulated photon pulse group has a wavelength between0.1 nm and 1 cm.
 9. The method of claim 2, wherein said third or moremodulated photon pulse group further comprises one or more additionalintensities.
 10. The method of claim 2, wherein the durations of thethird or more pulse ON are different from the durations of the third ormore photon pulse OFF.
 11. The method of claim 2, wherein said thirdmodulated photon pulse group has a change in light quantum of at least5%.
 12. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing a masterlogic controller in communication with said at least one photon emissionmodulation controller, wherein said master logic controller sendscommands to said at least one photon emission modulation controllercontrolling the modulated pulse groups of said first independentcomponent and said second independent component from said at least onephoton emitters.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least onephoton emitter is selected from the group consisting of incandescent(Tungsten-halogen and Xenon), Fluorescent (CFL's), high intensitydischarge (Metal Halide, High-Pressure Sodium, Low-Pressure Sodium,Mercury Vapor), and light emitting diode.
 14. The method of claim 1,wherein said at least one photon emission modulation controller isselected from the group consisting of a solid-state relay, ametal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor, a field-effecttransistor, a zener diode, optical chopper and a device that inducesmodulation of said first modulated photon pulse group and said secondmodulated photon pulse group.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein saidwavelength color of said first modulated photon pulse group and saidwavelength color of said second modulated photon pulse group are chosenfrom the group consisting of near red, far-red, blue, infra-red, yellow,orange, green and ultra-violet.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein saidwavelength color of said first modulated photon pulse group and saidwavelength color of said second modulated photon pulse group photonpulse each have a wavelength between 0.1 nm and 1 cm.
 17. The method ofclaim 1, wherein said bird is selected from the group comprising:chickens, quail, turkeys, waterfowl, ostriches, emu, pheasant, gamebirds, doves, pigeons and grouse, and tissue thereof.
 18. The method ofclaim 1, wherein said desired response in said bird is a responsemediated by opsins in the hypothalamus of said bird.
 19. The method ofclaim 1, wherein said desired response from said bird is chosen fromovulation, egg laying, hunger, growth and mood.
 20. The method of claim1, wherein said first modulated photon pulse group and said secondmodulated photon pulse group each has a change in light quantum of atleast 5%.
 21. The method of claim 1, wherein the duty cycle of saidfirst modulated photon pulse group and said second modulated photonpulse group ranges between 0.1% to 93%.
 22. The method of claim 1,wherein said first modulated photon pulse group and said secondmodulated photon pulse group are each specifically tuned to a desiredresponse from said bird.
 23. The method of claim 1, wherein said methodreduces the power used to induce a desired response in a bird by atleast 50% when compared to conventional growing systems.
 24. The methodof claim 1, wherein each of the one or more photon pulse OFF durationsof the first modulated photon pulse group is a different duration. 25.The method of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more photon pulse OFFdurations of the second modulated photon pulse group is a differentduration.
 26. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the one or morephoton pulse ON durations of the first modulated photon pulse group is adifferent duration.
 27. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the oneor more photon pulse ON durations of the second modulated photon pulsegroup is a different duration.
 28. The method of claim 1, wherein thedurations of the first pulse ON are different from the durations of thefirst photon pulse OFF.
 29. The method of claim 1, wherein the durationsof the second pulse ON are different from durations of the second photonpulse OFF.
 30. A method for inducing a desired response in a bird,wherein said method comprises: providing at least one photon emitter;providing at least one photon emission modulation controller incommunication with said at least one photon emitter; communicating acommand from said at least one photon emission modulation controller tosaid at least one photon emitter; providing a photon signal to saidbird, wherein said photon signal comprises two or more independentcomponents, wherein said two or more independent components comprise: afirst independent component comprising a repetitive first modulatedphoton pulse group, wherein said first modulated photon pulse group hasone or more photon pulse ON durations between 0.01 microseconds and 5000milliseconds with one or more intensities, has one or more photon pulseOFF durations between 0.1 microseconds and 24 hours, and a wavelengthcolor; and a second independent component comprising a repetitive secondmodulated photon pulse group, wherein said second modulated photon pulsegroup has one or more photon pulse ON durations between 0.01microseconds and 5000 milliseconds with one or more intensities, has oneor more second photon pulse OFF durations between is between 0.1microseconds and 24 hours, and a wavelength color; wherein the firstindependent component and the second independent component are producedwithin said signal simultaneously; wherein the second modulated photonpulse group is the same as the first modulated photon pulse group; andemitting said signal toward said bird from said at least one photonemitter, wherein the combined effect of first modulated photon pulsegroup and the second modulated photon pulse group of the signal producesa desired response from said bird; and wherein said desired responsefrom said bird is chosen from ovulation, fertility, egg production orlaying, hunger, growth, reduction of stress or calming, improving eggquality, socialization, bird growth, bird development, sexual maturity,improving reproductive quality, facilitation of nutrient uptake,photochemical responses, and regulation of circadian rhythm.